article_snippet.sent: Manuel Garza Jr., 35, already had a long criminal record at age 20 when Manuel Garza Jr. was stopped by Riojas, who was part of a team targeting property crimes at apartment complexes.
article_snippet.sent: Manuel Garza Jr. ran off and witnesses say that when Riojas caught up with Manuel Garza Jr., the two struggled and Manuel Garza Jr. grabbed the officer's gun.
article_snippet.sent: Riojas, 37, was fatally shot in the head.
article_snippet.sent: Witnesses said Manuel Garza Jr. put Riojas's gun in Manuel Garza Jr. pants, cursed at the officer, and ran away.
article_snippet.sent: Manuel Garza Jr. was apprehended a day later at Manuel Garza Jr. sister's apartment after an informant told detectives that someone had tried to sell someone the officer's missing semi-automatic service weapon.
article_snippet.sent: In a statement to detectives, Manuel Garza Jr. blamed Riojas. '
article_snippet.sent: Manuel Garza Jr. said Manuel Garza Jr. initially ran because Manuel Garza Jr. feared the officer would discover Manuel Garza Jr. was wanted on outstanding warrants. '
article_snippet.sent: Riojas (pictured), 37, was part of a team targeting property crimes at apartment complexes.
article_snippet.sent: Manuel Garza Jr. fled when Manuel Garza Jr. was stopped by Riojas, which led to a struggle and the police officer's death .
highlights_snippet.sent: Manuel Garza Jr. shot officer John Riojas after a struggle that ended with officer John Riojas being shot in the head .
  