5 shot, 3 killed in slew of shootings in San Antonio

Evidence markers are in place while San Antonio police investigate the scene of a shooting that took place Friday morning November 21, 2014 on the 3700 block of West Avenue. San Antonio Police Department spokesman Douglas Greene said a fight broke out between a group of men that escalated into a shooting leaving two men shot with multiple wounds that were transported to University Hospital. The suspects that fired the shots have not yet been located Greene said. less Evidence markers are in place while San Antonio police investigate the scene of a shooting that took place Friday morning November 21, 2014 on the 3700 block of West Avenue. San Antonio Police Department ... more Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close 5 shot, 3 killed in slew of shootings in San Antonio 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — At least five men were shot in three separate shootings during a span of 12 hours in San Antonio Friday morning.

Three of the men have died and two are in critical condition, San Antonio police said. The incidents took place on the East Side, South Side and North Side. Police said they do not believe the shootings are related.

"We've had several incidents overnight and at this point we don't have any indication that they're anything more than several random occurrences that are not related to each other," said San Antonio Police Sgt. Javier Salazar at an active scene on the South Side.

Two critically injured in North Side shooting stemming from group fistfight

A group of about 12 men clashed at a North Side apartment complex Friday morning and at least two men are suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

San Antonio Police spokesman Douglas Greene said the two men in their late teens or early 20s were shot at around 7 a.m. after a verbal altercation escalated into a fistfight at the Arbor Place Apartments in the 3800 block of West Avenue.

Greene said at least one person brandished a handgun and shot the two men multiple times. The men fled the scene to the West Avenue Apartments next door and collapsed in the parking lot.

The two men were transported to an area hospital in critical condition, Greene said.

One man shot in chest, killed on South Side around 6 a.m.

A 32-year-old male was shot in the chest in the 600 block of W. Baetz Blvd. around 6 a.m. Friday in what appears to be a drive-by shooting, police said.

The man was identified as Anthony Valdez.

Valdez, along with others in the house, was lying down inside when he heard gun shots outside of the home. He stood up upon hearing the shots and was struck one time by the gun fire.

Others in the home did not see the shooters but a witness reported seeing a dark-colored SUV fleeing the scene.

San Antonio Police Sgt. Javier Salazar said police found two different bullet casings but know of only one shooter.

Police confirmed the man died a few hours after the incident.

Two dead in early morning East Side shooting

Two men in their late teens or early 20s are dead after a shooting on the East Side Friday morning.

Police responded to a reported shooting in the 500 block of J St. around 9 p.m. on Thursday. A resident reported shots were being fired at the back of their house, police said.

Hours later, at around 1 a.m., shots were reported at the same address. When police arrived on scene, they found two men who were shot and killed.

Both men, who have not yet been identified by police, had guns by their side when found, authorities reported. One had been shot in the chest; the other in the back of the head.

Police said they have no suspects in the killing of the two men.

One resident told police a bullet grazed his shoulder.

Jfechter@mysa.com

Twitter: @JFreports