Benjamin Edward Marconi, a 50-year-old detective with the San Antonio Police Department, was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty on November 20, 2016. Marconi, who had served the department for 20 years, was sitting in his marked patrol car in front of the department's headquarters, writing a ticket for another driver during a routine traffic stop. A motorist stopped his car, got out, and shot Marconi twice in the head before fleeing the scene.
Marconi was later pronounced dead at the San Antonio Military Medical Center.
The shooter, identified as Otis Tyrone McKane, was arrested the following day after a massive manhunt. McKane, a 31-year-old African American male, was charged with capital murder. Investigators believed that McKane was targeting police officers in general, as the shooting occurred on the same day as three other unrelated attacks against police officers in the United States. McKane was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death.
The murder of Detective Marconi shocked the San Antonio community and highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers. Marconi's death was the first line-of-duty death for the San Antonio Police Department since 2013. The case drew significant media attention and led to increased concerns about the safety of police officers nationwide.
