A San Antonio man was sentenced to life in prison for firing 25 rounds from a AR-15 rifle at state troopers during a pursuit.
Martin Mercado, 33, was found guilty by a jury in June on two charges of attempted capital murder of a police officer and one charge of evading detention with a vehicle. Evidence showed that on June 9, 2019, a Department of Public Safety Trooper attempted to stop a pickup Mercado was driving. Mercado took off, leading the officers on a high speed chase while shooting at the officers with an assault rifle. At one point, Mercado was driving against traffic at speeds ranging from 80 to 100 miles per hour. Troopers fired at Mercado’s vehicle before he stopped the truck. Mercado then led officers on a foot chase before he was arrested.
Because Mercado was convicted as a habitual offender, he faced a minimum of 25 years in prison for each charge. On Wednesday, a judge sentenced Mercado to life in prison for each charge of attempted capital murder of a police officer. Mercado was also sentenced to 30 years in prison for the charge of evading detention with a vehicle.
“This defendant posed a serious threat to those officers as well as Bexar County citizens who were on the same roads that day. His criminal history combined with the dangerous actions in these cases show he has no place in our community. Violent crime like this is a focus of the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office and we will always seek just punishment for anyone who puts our safety at risk,” said Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales.
Assistant District Attorneys Tamara Strauch and Madeline Flosi of the Felony Trial Division prosecuted this case in the 175th District Court. The Texas Rangers investigated the crime.