Man shoots, kills stepson after argument in Kirby

A man died Tuesday morning after being shot in the chest by his stepfather in Kirby. A man died Tuesday morning after being shot in the chest by his stepfather in Kirby. Photo: Mark D. Wilson/San Antonio Express-News Photo: Mark D. Wilson/San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Man shoots, kills stepson after argument in Kirby 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — A Kirby resident with a prior arrest for assaulting his elderly stepfather was shot dead Tuesday by the stepfather in what appears to be a case of self defense, police said.



The stepson, 59, whose name has not yet been released, initially got into an argument with Donald Lee Pawloski, in his 70s, at about 1 a.m., according to Kirby Police Chief Kevin M. Bois.



The two shared a home with Pawloski's wife on the 5100 block of Redding Lane, authorities said.

During the initial argument, the stepson appears to have struck Pawloski several times and possibly tried to strangle him, police said, adding the older man had marks on his neck and face. The two managed to separate and go to their own rooms, authorities said.



However, a few hours later, the stepson went into Pawloski's room. Bois said the conversation between the two men was initially apologetic, but quickly turned argumentative again.

Around 4:45 a.m., when the stepson was about to begin striking the stepfather again, Pawloski pulled out a gun and fired twice into the man's chest, according to police.



Authorities said the stepson died almost instantly.



Bois said police have responded to the same house in the past for family violence issues. The stepson had been arrested in February 2013 for assaulting his stepfather, he said.



Initial findings indicate that charges are not likely to be filed against Pawloski, according to Bois.

The incident marks the second fatal shooting in to have taken place within the past week in Kirby, a northeast San Antonio enclave of about 8,000 residents. On Friday, Raquel Ramos, 43, was charged with manslaughter after police said she fatally shot her boyfriend as he tried to teach her how to handle a shotgun.



At some point, not realizing the gun was loaded, Ramos pointed it at the man's chest and pulled the trigger, she told authorities. The two were intoxicated when the shooting occurred at Ramos' mobile home in the 4800 block of Julie Drive, Bois said.

mdwilson@express-news.net