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1of56Mark Anthony Gonzales, accused of fatally shooting Bexar County Sheriff's Sgt. Kenneth Vann four years ago in an ambush-style killing on the East Side, takes his seat in the courtroom during his capital murder trial at the State District Court on Wednesday, September 23, 2015.Matthew Busch, For The San Antonio Express-News / For The San Antonio Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less2of56Mark Anthony Gonzales is on trial for capital murder.Matthew Busch /For Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
3of564of56Prosecuting attorney Julie Wright points to a map while questioning Bexar County Sheriff's Lt. Jose Trevino during the start of the capital murder trial of Mark Anthony Gonzales. Gonzales is accused of killung Bexar County Sheriff Kenneth Vann in a 2011 shooting.Robin Jerstad / San Antonio Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less5of56
Law officers investigate the scene at Loop 410 and Rigsby Avenue where Bexar County sheriff's Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann was gunned down while he was stopped at a red light.
6of567of56Law enforcement officials investigate the scene early Saturday morning May 28, 2011 at the intersection of Loop 410 and Rigsby Avenue where Bexar County sheriff deputy Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann was killed. Vann, 48, who is a 24 year veteran of the department, was in a marked unit stopped at a red light at Rigsby Avenue and SE Loop 410 on the city's East Side when a car pulled up alongside his and opened fire with no warning, officials said.HENRY VALADEZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less8of56
9of5610of56In a June 5, 2011 photo, Bexar County Sheriff's officers arrest Mark Anthony Gonzales, 41, left, the suspect in the capital murder case of Bexar County Sheriff's Sgt. Kenneth Vann, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/San Antonio Express News, Jerry Lara) MAGS OUT; TV OUT; NO SALES; SAN ANTONIO OUT; AP MEMBERS ONLY; MANDATORY CREDITJERRY LARA, MBO / APShow MoreShow Less11of56
A sign hangs on a post by the entrance to the residence in the 19700 block of Pleasanton Road, where Bexar County Sheriff's officers arrested Mark Anthony Gonzales, 41, as a suspect in the capital murder case of Bexar County Sheriff's Sgt. Kenneth Vann, on Sunday, June 5, 2011.
Law enforcement officers remove evidence from the scene at a house where Mark Anthony Gonzales, 41, was arrested in the 19700 block of Pleasanton Road, on Sunday, June 5, 2011. Gonzales is a suspect in connection with the slaying of Bexar County Sheriff's Sgt. Kenneth Vann on May 28.
Law enforcement officers work the scene at a house in the 19700 block of Pleasanton Road where Mark Anthony Gonzales, 41, was arrested on Sunday, June 5, 2011, as a suspect in the slaying of Bexar County Sheriff's Sgt. Kenneth Vann on May 28.
Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz walks to talk with media as law enforcement officers place Mark Anthony Gonzales, 41, in a car on Sunday, June 5, 2011. Gonzales is the suspect in the capital murder case of Bexar County Sheriff's Sgt. Kenneth Vann and was arrested in the 19700 block of Pleasanton Road.
Jerry Lara/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less17of56Law officers arrive for funeral services for Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann of the Bexar County Sheriff Office, at St. Joseph of Honey Creek Catholic Church in Spring Branch, June 3, 2011.Bob Owen/Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.netShow MoreShow Less
18of5619of56Sgt. Kenneth Vann, 48, was shot 26 times with an AR-15 assault rifle while he waited at a stop light at an East Side intersection around 2 a.m. on May 28, 2011.Bob Owen/Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.netShow MoreShow Less20of56Standing in front of her husband's casket, Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Yvonne Vann waits to greet fellow officers and friends before funeral services for Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann.Lisa Krantz/Lisa Krantz/lkrantz@express-news.netShow MoreShow Less
21of5622of56Law officers from around Texas fill the small chapel in the overflow area during funeral services for Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann of the Bexar County Sheriff Office, at St. Joseph of Honey Creek Catholic Church in Spring Branch, June 3, 2011.Bob Owen/Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.netShow MoreShow Less23of56Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Brent Bible prays in the overflow chapel.Bob Owen/Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.netShow MoreShow Less
24of5625of56Members of the Honor Guard of the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office pray in the overflow chapel during funeral services for Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann.Bob Owen/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less26of56Deputy Sgt. Vann greets mourners as they pay their respects before the funeral for her husband Sgt. Vann at St. Joseph Catholic Church at Honey Creek in Spring Branch.LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
27of5628of56Rachael Vann stands at the side of her mother, Sgt. Yvonne Vann, as she greets law officers from around the state before funeral services for Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann.Lisa Krantz/Lisa Krantz/lkrantz@express-news.netShow MoreShow Less29of56Standing in front of her husband's casket, Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Yvonne Vann greets law officers from around the state before funeral services for Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann of the Bexar County Sheriff Office, at St. Joseph of Honey Creek Catholic Church in Spring Branch, June 3, 2011.Lisa Krantz/Lisa Krantz/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
30of5631of56Mourners pray during the funeral for Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann at St. Joseph Catholic Church at Honey Creek in Spring Branch on Friday, June 3, 2011.LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less32of56From left, the wife of slain Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann stands with his sons, Justin Vann and Kenneth Vann, Jr. during Vann's funeral at St. Joseph Catholic Church at Honey Creek.LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
33of5634of56Nueces County Sheriff Deputy Margaret Davis, center, mourns next to Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Tillie Willborn, right.LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less35of56Lance Cpl. Hector Jaramillo holds the American flag during the funeral for Sgt. Vann.LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
36of5637of56Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Anita Price, right, embraces a fellow deputy as mourners pay their respects to Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann.LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less38of56Kenneth Vann, Jr. left, and Justin Vann, greet mourners paying respects to their father.LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
39of5640of56Law Enforcement Honor Guards from across Texas escort the procession from the church to the cemetery during the funeral for Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann at St. Joseph Catholic Church at Honey Creek in Spring Branch on Friday, June 3, 2011.LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less41of56Law enforcement officers salute the colors during the procession for the graveside service for Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann.BOB OWEN/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
42of5643of56Graveside services for Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann of the Bexar County Sheriff Office were held at St. Joseph of Honey Creek catholic Church in Spring Branch on Friday, June 3, 2011.BOB OWEN/Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.netShow MoreShow Less44of56Law enforcement officers and other mourners salute as the casket of Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann is taken to the gravesite at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery at Honey Creek in Spring Branch on Friday, June 3, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
45of5646of56Graveside services for Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann of the Bexar County Sheriff Office were held at St. Joseph of Honey Creek catholic Church in Spring Branch on Friday, June 3, 2011.BOB OWEN/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less47of56Family members of Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann including, from left, his sister, Virginia Jimenez, his aunt, Rosalinda Keiser, his daughter, Rachael Vann, his sons Kenneth Vann, Jr. and Justin Vann and his wife, Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Yvonne Vann watch as Bexar County Sheriff Honor Guard Deputies William Hendricks, left, and Raul Medellin, right, fold the flag covering Sgt. Vann's casket.LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
48of5649of56Bexar County Sheriff Honor Guard members pass the folded flag during the funeral.BOB OWEN/Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.netShow MoreShow Less50of56Lance Cpl. Hector Jaramillo, right, hands the American Flag to Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Yvonne Vann, the wife of slain Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann.LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
51of5652of56Bexar County Sheriff Sgt. Yvonne Vann, right, is escorted by Fr. Jimmy Drennan after graveside services for her husband. Vann's sons, Kenneth Vann Jr., far left, and Justin Vann, follow close behind.BOB OWEN/Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.netShow MoreShow Less53of56Fr. Jjimmy Drennan escorts Sgt. Vann after the funeral services for her husband.BOB OWEN/Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.netShow MoreShow Less
54of5655of56Helicopters fly over the funeral for Bexar County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Kenneth Gary Vann at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery at Honey Creek in Spring Branch on Friday, June 3, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
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SAN ANTONIO — Mark Anthony Gonzales chuckled after telling a friend he had just shot and killed a cop, the man testified on Thursday, the third day of Gonzales' capital murder trial.
"The first words out of his mouth were 'I killed a cop. Don't tell no one, not even your wife," Steve Starling testified in state District Judge Mary Roman's courtroom.
Gonzales has pleaded not guilty to the shooting of Sgt. Kenneth Vann, who was shot more than 25 times with a .223-caliber rifle as he waited at a red light in 2011.
Starling said in his rear view mirror he could see the growing scene at Loop 410 and Rigsby Avenue as more and more police cruisers arrived.
Starling and Gonzales had spent most of the day together on May 27, 2011, he testified, drinking beer and catching up. They eventually parted ways around 2 a.m., when the bar closed.
Starling testified that he was scared for his family's safety and took what Gonzales said as a threat as he explained why it took him more than a week to come forward.
"What's a person who just murdered a sheriff capable of doing to your family?" he asked.
Under cross examination, defense attorney Paul Goeke asked Starling whether the growing reward money offered for information in Vann's killing factored into his decision to wait to come forward.
Starling denied that was a factor and said he's been offered no reward money to date.
Testimony will resume this afternoon in the 175th state District Court.
