San Antonio man sentenced to federal prison for Lackland AFB shooting

Joseph Anthony Jimenez used a 'Glock switch' to fire a stolen pistol like an automatic weapon at the military base.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:57pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a spent shell casing, its metallic surface and grooves sharply illuminated by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying a sense of gritty investigation into the Lackland AFB shooting incident.The recovery of ballistic evidence from the Lackland AFB shooting scene helped authorities identify and apprehend the suspect.San Antonio Today

A 20-year-old San Antonio man has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for firing a stolen gun with an illegal conversion device towards military personnel at Lackland Air Force Base in 2024. No one was injured in the incident, which prompted return fire from Air Force security before the suspect fled the scene.

Why it matters

The Lackland AFB shooting incident raised serious concerns about the threat of illegal firearms and automatic conversion devices being used against military installations and personnel, highlighting the need for enhanced security measures and stricter enforcement of gun laws.

The details

According to the Department of Justice, Joseph Anthony Jimenez used a 'Glock switch' conversion device to modify a stolen pistol and fire it in a fully automatic manner. Jimenez pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a machine gun and possession of an unregistered firearm. The shooting occurred on August 17, 2024, when a service member reported 'fired rounds go past them' around 2:15 a.m. near a Lackland AFB perimeter gate. A couple hours later, a sedan pulled up and someone inside fired shots at base personnel, prompting return fire from Air Force security before the car fled.

  • The incident occurred on August 17, 2024.
  • Jimenez was arrested nearly two weeks after the Lackland shootings, thanks to ballistic evidence recovered from a separate shooting scene that same day.

The players

Joseph Anthony Jimenez

A 20-year-old San Antonio resident who was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for the Lackland AFB shooting incident.

Justin Simmons

The U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas, who stated that Jimenez 'set an example of what not to do' and should feel fortunate the consequences were not worse.

Javier Salazar

The Bexar County Sheriff who said Jimenez later admitted to being involved in the Lackland attack.

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What they’re saying

“This individual set an example of what not to do, and he should feel fortunate that the consequences of his actions were not far worse, even deadly.”

— Justin Simmons, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas

The takeaway

The Lackland AFB shooting incident underscores the ongoing challenges in preventing the misuse of illegal firearms and automatic conversion devices, and the critical importance of robust security measures to protect military installations and personnel.