Texas cops charged with murdering Melissa Perez in ‘mental health crisis’

Three San Antonio, Texas, cops face murder charges for the fatal shooting of a woman experiencing a “mental health crisis.”

Melissa Perez, 46, was gunned down by the three officers early Friday when she refused to come out of her apartment, tossed a glass candlestick at them and then swung a hammer in their direction, Police Chief William McManus said.

Sgt. Alfred Flores along with Officers Eleazar Alejandro and Nathaniel Villalobos were suspended without pay and swiftly arrested for Perez’s death.

“The officers’ actions were not consistent with SAPD’s policy and training,” McManus said Friday.

“They placed themselves in a situation where they used deadly force which was not reasonable given all the circumstances as we now understand them,” he added.

Cops responded after Perez was suspected of cutting wires to a fire alarm at her apartment complex around 12:30 a.m.

Police saw her talking to a fire official outside and demanded she speak with them.

“Hey lady, get over here,” said one unidentified officer, according to bodycam footage.

Perez did not oblige, and instead dashed toward her apartment, where cops followed and removed a window screen.

“Stop it … you ain’t got no warrant,” the woman was heard shouting.

“You’re going to get shot,” one of the cops warned, to which. Perez: “Shoot me – you ain’t got no warrant.”

Bodycam footage then recorded the sound of glass breaking followed by two rounds of gunshots.

Officials say one officer opened fire after Perez threw the candlestick at them and swung a hammer.

All three officers then fired their weapons when the woman continued approaching them with the hammer, according to McManus.

Perez was shot at least twice, police said.

“It appeared that Miss Perez was having a mental health crisis,” McManus said.

“This incident will continue to be thoroughly investigated, as are all officer involved shootings,” McManus said, before offering condolences to Perez’s family.

With Post wires