Mother-in-law of alleged shooting suspect thanks fallen San Marcos officer's family

The mother-in-law of a man accused of killing a San Marcos police officer is giving her condolences to his family. 19 year SMPD veteran Kenneth Copeland was shot to death while serving a felony arrest warrant for Stewart Mettz Monday afternoon. 
 
SMPD said Copeland and a group of officers knocked on Mettz’s door and then Mettz opened fire striking officer Copeland. Officers returned fire and Mettz eventually surrendered. Officer Copeland was sent to the hospital and died from his injuries.
 
According to an arrest warrant signed Monday charging Mettz with capital murder, Mettz knowingly opened fire on officers. The warrant stated officers were dressed in uniform and had marked vehicles. When Mettz was being treated he told an investigator he, “knew the person he shot was a Police Officer approximately two times in the chest area.”
 
The document also states the gunshot Mettz suffered was inflicted by the officers.
 
The incident came as a shock for Mettz’s mother-in-law Brenda Sinclair. She said Mettz was a veteran battling mental illness. She and her daughter filed a police report against Mettz in November. She said Mettz has hurt them on a number of occasions and had decided enough was enough.
 
According to a felony warrant for assault charges, Mettz also threatened stating, “You had better not file charges or you know what will happen.” 
 
Sinclair said they feared for their life and are grateful for Copeland. 
 
"I'm so sorry this officer had to die it breaks my heart,” Sinclair said. “I just wish it never happened he saved my life and my daughters. I'm so sorry to the family, I wish it never happened."
 
Sinclair and her daughter are staying at a shelter. She said Mettz had frozen her daughter’s bank account. Sinclair hopes the tragedy can serve as a lesson for young women suffering in domestic violence relationships.
 
"So many women in shelter's they end up dead hopefully they see this and get help,” Sinclair said.