San Marcos law enforcement has pledged to commit more resources and personnel to the downtown area following four separate, unrelated shootings over the Halloween weekend, that left one person dead and several others injured.
San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge announced new safety measures during a news conference on Monday, stating that violent crime is trending upward in 2025 compared to previous years.
The San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) will staff a minimum of four officers in the downtown area on busy weekend nights through the end of the fiscal year.
During the busy Halloween weekend, SMPD officers were overwhelmed with over 35 active calls for service at one point and received assistance from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, as well as police departments from Buda and Kyle.
Police Chief Standridge ordered all bars in the downtown square to close early on Sunday morning after the first fatal shooting incident on Hopkins Street.
Police are actively investigating all four incidents. They are searching for two suspects involved in the fatal shooting near Kissing Alley and have located a suspect vehicle. One suspect has been arrested in connection with a separate shooting on North LBJ Drive.
The department is updating its five-year strategic plan, which will place a significant focus on downtown patrols and expanded community engagement programs.
