SAN ANTONIO — A 25-year-old man has been arrested after a series of violent incidents, including an assault and an armed robbery that shocked the local community. Wayne Mercado III is currently facing multiple felony charges connected to these events, which occurred over a span of days.
Mercado’s troubles began on September 23, when he allegedly engaged in a heated argument outside the PikNik convenience store. A surveillance video captured him confronting a 25-year-old man who had just entered the store with two small children. Following a brief exchange, the situation escalated into violence in the parking lot.
Authorities report that Mercado, joined by an unidentified accomplice, brutally assaulted the victim, striking him repeatedly with a large piece of wood. The victim managed to escape to a nearby apartment for safety, but Mercado returned soon after, this time armed with a shotgun. He reportedly aimed at the victim and fired a shot, fortunately missing his target before fleeing the scene.
Officers responded quickly by cordoning off a nearby apartment complex, where they discovered a shotgun but did not locate Mercado. Just five days later, he allegedly struck again, teaming up with two women, Jeneya Jackson and Linda Garcia, for a violent armed robbery at an apartment.
According to an arrest warrant, the trio lured their victim inside before launching a brutal attack, beating her with a metal rod and a cooking pan, in addition to threatening her with a handgun. The assailants made off with the victim’s purse and cellphone after an attempt to intervene by a bystander.
After nearly a month of evading capture, Mercado’s luck ran out following a tip to law enforcement. Officers located him and Garcia at an apartment known for harboring fugitives. Both surrendered without resistance, while Jackson had been arrested a few weeks earlier.
Mercado now faces several charges, including aggravated robbery and an additional aggravated assault charge related to the earlier shooting incident at the convenience store. The case has raised concerns about safety in the area, prompting discussions among residents and local leaders on crime prevention. Police continue to investigate the incidents and are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.