A 23 year old San Antonio man has pleaded guilty to shooting a postal carrier in Spring Branch last year, as part of a bizarre scheme to steal mail in hopes of grabbing tax refund or personal information, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Bradley Ahern shot the mail carrier when she came upon him stealing mail out of postal boxes in Spring Branch. He demanded that she turn over her cell phone, afraid she would photograph or report him. When she refused, he shot her in both legs, and stole her pickup truck.
Ahern and some equally incompetent co-defendants then led U.S. Postal Inspectors on a chase through north Bexar County, with Ahern firing shots at the Postal Inspector.
During the 19 mile pursuit, shots were also fired at a restaurant at Loop 410 and Broadway.
The group was spotted two days later at a south side motel by San Antonio Police, and Ahern decided again that it would be a fantastic idea to shoot at police officers. After the group ditched their getaway vehicle in the parking garage at North Star Mall, they evaded capture on foot.
They were arrested two days later in the parking lot of another motel.
All three remain in custody.
Ahern faces up to twenty years in prison for assault on a federal officer, and using a firearm in a crime of violence.