Wife of a killed car dealer remembers his life

SAN ANTONIO – A suspect is now behind bars in an illegal dumping case that resulted in a chase, a shootout and a fatal accident.

Sheriff Javier Salazar said 39-year-old John Yeates was arrested at his home Tuesday morning without incident. Salazar said he will face a charge of conduct causing death.

The illegal disposal took place in a car park near US Highway 181 and Loop 1604. Employees of the car park confronted the suspects, which led to a chase.

George Gomez, 36, was one of the employees pursuing the suspects, but died in an accident.

“I just didn't want to believe it. It's like a nightmare you can't wake up from,” said Gomez's wife, who wished to remain anonymous.

“What did he mean to this family?” asked KSAT’s John Paul Barajas.

“He was everything to us. He was our rock. He meant everything to us. His family was the happiest when he came home,” said Gomez's wife.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Yeates and another person were arrested illegal disposal in a car parking lot in the 12700 block of US Highway 181 on September 11.

Salazar said employees at the car park confronted Yeates and the other driver.

At one point, weapons were displayed by both sides, and Yeates and the other driver drove away in a pickup truck, Salazar said. Gomez and other associates then followed the truck.

BCSO said Gomez fired shots at the truck during the chase, but it was unknown if Yeates or the driver returned fire.

“Gomez fired through his own windshield during the pursuit, and the evidence we found on Gomez's car is consistent with that. Whether they fired back at Gomez is entirely possible,” Salazar said.

For unknown reasons, Gomez stopped pursuing the truck and drove back to the parking lot, where he crashed his vehicle on US Highway 181.

When Gomez was found, Salazar said his vehicle was parked under trees. Officials concluded that Gomez had not been shot, but had suffered a heart attack at some point.

“Yes, we all have the right to defend ourselves and our property, but taking the law into our own hands, chasing someone down and shooting them is certainly not the recommended course of action in a case like this,” Salazar said.

“If someone had pulled out a gun and my family was there, I don't know how I would have handled the situation. Like I said, George was a protector,” Gomez's wife said.

According to the BCSO, Yeates has a long criminal history, including child endangerment.

Yeates and the truck driver face charges of illegal dumping, but charges have not been confirmed. The driver was not named, but Salazar said the person was being held for further questioning.

Gomez's wife said he leaves behind three boys, a six-month-old, a six-year-old and a 16-year-old.

“George, we love you, we miss you. You were the best father these boys could have asked for,” said Gomez's wife.