School Shootings: Past and Present see page 7
SA Scorpions fall in inaugural home game see page 13
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
April 17, 2012
Volume 47
Issue 12
UTSA VP arrested for aggravated sexual assault on a child Allison Tinn Editor-in-Chief
Former UTSA Assistant Vice President for Communications David Gabler.
According to the police report, the victim was transported to Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital and Gabler was brought to the Methodist Specialty
news@paisano-online.com Leandre “Dre” Vonzell Hill, 22, was arrested by the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) on April 7 for the March 24 murder of Randall Perkins at the apartment complex previously known as Aspen Heights. Hill, who was on probation for a previous robbery charge, turned himself in hours after police issued three warrants for his arrest on the afternoon of April 7 that connected him to the fatal shooting. The arrest warrants were for the murder of Randall Perkins, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a home burglary that was not associated with the events of March 24. The victim of the aggravated assault mentioned in the arrest warrant is UTSA student Paul Benevides, who suffered a gunshot wound to his arm. Perkins was reported to have been standing in front of Benevides at the time of the shooting, and the single shot traveled through Perkins’ torso and struck Benevides. Both victims were taken to University Hospital,
Burk Frey Web Editor
Brianna Cristiano / The Paisano
news@paisano-online.com
A new name and a new sign hangs at The Estates.
where hospital officials pronounced Perkins dead at 3:26 a.m. Following the killing, SAPD recovered a cell phone that contained video from the shooting scene. According to police, the quality of the footage is too poor to discern any visual details, but the sound is clear. The words “stop tripping, Dre” are clearly heard directly prior to the sound of a single gunshot. This is presumed to be the gunshot that killed Perkins and wounded Benevides. An autopsy of Perkins performed by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to his back. According to SAPD, several witnesses from the night of the shooting were able to positively identify Hill as the shooter. The cell phone video, autopsy results and positive identifications by witnesses were enough to give police probable cause to believe Hill “intentionally and knowingly shot and killed” Perkins according to the police report. See ASPEN, Page 6
On April 10, UTSA hosted the official groundbreaking ceremony for its upcoming athletics complex. Mayor Julian Castro, local community leaders and UTSA staff and students gathered at Park West to celebrate the start of construction on the multi-million dollar facility. Located off of Hausman Road near UTSA, Park West will eventually be home for the university’s athletic facilities. Joining the mayor in attendance at the ceremony were State Senator Jeff Wentworth, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, City Councilman Reed Wil-
liams, businessman Red McCombs, key members of the UTSA administration and others. As guests arrived they were greeted by select football, track and soccer student-athletes while being entertained by the UTSA Pep Band. Phase I of the complex—funded largely by $22.1 million from the city and county—includes two 1,000-seat venues for track and field and soccer. The two venues will eventually feature 5,000 permanent seats each, with the initial 1,000-seat configurations and critical infrastructure scheduled to be ready by Fall 2013. The new track stadium will be able to accommodate large state and region-wide crowds upon completion.
Stephen Whitaker / The Paisano
Staff Writer
tained a search warrant for Gabler’s home, which was searched with the assistance of the United States Secret Service. Authorities confiscated com-
UTSA breaks ground on sports complex
Arrest made in Aspen Heights shooting Hannah Smothers
and Transplant to conduct sexual assault exams. DNA evidence was found on both the victim and the suspect. The police department then ob-
The shovel used for the ground breaking ceremony. See PARK WEST, Page 12
FTK raises over $30,000 Douglas Richter Staff Writer
news@paisano-online.com For the Kids (FTK) volunteers kicked up their heels last Friday at the annual FTK Dance Marathon raising a total of $33,875.46. Sponsors, dancers and over 200 volunteers committed 18 hours of their time and were able to triple the amount of donations compared to the previous year’s event. The money will be donated to San Antonio’s Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital to benefit FTK’s 84 families. The marathon is a charity event that supports young cancer victims in their
fight against the disease—this highenergy celebration that honors families, recognizes participants and unites the community for one weekend supports one cause. The third annual FTK Dance Marathon was held for the first time at the UTSA Convocation Center and turned out to be the most successful yet. The dance marathon is also positioned to be the largest studentled philanthropic organization at UTSA, receiving over 2,500 “likes” on Facebook. FTK hopes their annual dance marathon will eventually become a city-wide event. Established by the Leadership Challenge Class of 2009, FTK is a studentled organization that was created to
Brianna Cristiano / The Paisano
UTSA Vice President for Communications David Gabler has been fired following his arrest on April 13 for aggravated sexual assault of a child, ending 17 years of employment. Gabler was released on a $75,000 bond. According to an Alamo Heights press release, at approximately 2:15 a.m., April 13, a police officer noticed a parked car at the 500 block of Argo, in Alamo Heights. The officer then observed some movement within the vehicle. Upon approaching the car the officer saw what appeared to be an older man and young boy putting on their clothes. The 15-year-old gave a statement to the police initially claiming Gabler, 47, was a family friend. After further questioning, the boy revealed the two had met in an Internet chat room. “That was the boy’s initial story, but later the truth came out,” Administrative Sergeant for the Alamo Heights Police Department Tom Vitacco said. “I can tell you there was absolutely no family relation between the two.” According to an Alamo Heights Police Department press release, “The perpetrator then picked up the boy in front of his home and drove to the location where they engaged in sexual activity even though the perpetrator was aware of the child’s age.” “The fact that he (the boy) was under the age of 17 raised the charges to aggravated assault,” Vitacco said. “There was no weapon and no force.”
Photo courtesy of UTSA
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puters, cameras and digital media, which will be analyzed for further evidence. The U.S. Secret Service’s Electronic Crimes Task Force (ECTF) has also become involved. The task force’s mission is to “prioritize investigative cases that involve electronic crimes.” Gabler, who joined UTSA in 1995, was the university’s official spokesperson and crisis communicator. He accompanied President Ricardo Romo during many press interviews. He also received several awards for his work in public relations. Associate Director for Media Relation Christi Fish said, “No decision has been made yet,” regarding Gabler’s replacement. Later, the University declined any further interviews from the media. Fish released a statement on behalf of the university shortly following the arrest of Gabler expressing “great sorrow” for having learned about the arrest, and assuring that “our hearts go out to all those involved.” Gabler has not been indicted. Mysanantonio.com reported Saturday that attorney Clint M. Glenny II is representing Gabler. “Mr. Gabler vehemently denies the allegations made against him and looks forward to proving his innocence in a Bexar County court,” Glenny wrote in a statement released on MySA.com. “We are confident that after all the facts become known that he will be exonerated.” The ECTF and the police are reviewing the evidence to determine whether there are more victims.
FTK participants show how much money was raised.
ignite a united effort across the UTSA campus to support local families battling childhood cancers. See FTK, Page 6