It was just before 4:30 a.m. on November 8 when officers from the San Antonio Police Department were dispatched to the 5600 block of Culebra Road on the city’s West Side after reports of possible gunfire. What they found was haunting. Twenty-three-year-old Zachary James Owens lay on the pavement with visible trauma—later confirmed to be a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the local medical examiner later ruled his passing a homicide.
Zachary’s passing has left a scar on the West Side neighborhood, where friends, family and neighbors continue to reel from the shock. Described by those who knew him as a kind-hearted and hardworking young man, he is remembered not just as a victim of violence, but as someone who filled his small corner of the world with warmth. One nearby resident, still shaken, recalled being awakened by the loud bang and flashing police lights in the early hours of the morning. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “You never expect something like this to happen so close to home.”
Investigators with the SAPD Homicide Unit say they’re working through surveillance footage captured by nearby businesses and residences, piece by piece. Witnesses reported seeing a man in dark clothing leaving the area on foot around the time of the shooting, but so far no suspect has been publicly identified. Officials reminded the community that even a tiny detail—even a casual mention, a piece of video tucked away in a phone—could help bring answers.
The motive for the attack remains unclear. Investigators say they have yet to establish whether Zachary knew the person responsible or if this was a random act of violence. The case remains under active investigation, as law enforcement presses ahead in hopes of bringing closure to a grieving family.
Meanwhile, the West Side community is calling for action. Residents have renewed demands for better safety measures along Culebra Road—including increased police patrols and improved street lighting—hoping to prevent another tragedy from happening. It’s become clear in recent days that the pain of loss is mingled now with a collective desire for change.
Zachary’s loved ones have been notified and are being supported as they begin to make funeral arrangements, though nothing can ease the hole his passing has left behind. In the wake of this loss, his story has become a rallying point for neighbors and friends alike, all determined to honor his memory, demand answers, and work toward a safer tomorrow.
If you have any information about the incident—especially if you captured footage between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. near the 5600 block of Culebra Road—you’re urged to contact the SAPD Homicide Unit or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers of San Antonio at (210) 224-STOP. Every piece of information helps.
In a moment of unexpected violence, a young man’s life was taken, but his memory now fuels a neighborhood’s hope for justice and change.
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