We're learning more about three people arrested at a South Side motel on Wednesday in connection with a crime spree that began with the shooting of a postal carrier in Spring Branch on Saturday, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Affidavits obtained by 1200 WOAI news reveal the string of violent incients began Saturday when Bradley A'Hearn, 22, approached woman as she was delivering mail. He was wearing a ski mask and carrying a handgun, and she demanded the woman's cell phone. When she was unable to remove it from a clip on her shirt quickly enough, federal investigators say A'Hearn then shot her in the leg, and jumped into her car, which was full of undelivered mail.
He was following in another vehicle allegedly occupied by the other two people arrested, Sara Richford, 26, and Piper Lee, 40.
The affidavit confirms that it was A'Hearn who fired at a state trooper on US 281 at Bulverde Road on Monday when he recognized the Toyota Venza that was stolen from the postal carrier, and it was also A'Hearn who opened fire on San Antonio Police when they tried to arrest him at Loop 410 and Broadway on Tuesday. The trio later escaped from a parking garage at North Star Mall.
They were busted when an employee of a motel noticed 'suspicious' amounts of mail left in the hotel room, which had been placed in a large trash bag.
Some of the mail had been opened and items removed from the envelopes, including 'a large number of W-2 tax forms, indicating that A'Hearn and the others intended to attempt an identity theft operation.
The arrest was pulled off when Richford contacted a confidential source, who is a friend of Richford,, gave the individual her location, and asked to be picked up and taken to another motel.
When he arrived to pick up Richford, she was with the other two men, and they were armed. During the drive, the three discused shooting the mail carrier, shooting at police at the Jim's Restaurant at Broadway and 410, and escaping the police at North Star Mall.
The ride share driver then registered the three, at their request, at the hotel where they were arrested. Richford has given a statement to police, saying A'Hearn shot the mail carrier in an attempt to steal mail. He wanted her phone because he was afraid she would use it to call 9-1-1.
A'Hearn is facing more than half a century in prison. Richford and Lee are facing lesser charges.