Two men arrested after off-duty officer killed outside San Antonio IHOP

An off-duty officer for the San Antonio Independent School District was killed early Saturday when he was run over by a vehicle outside a restaurant, authorities said. The man was attempting to break up a fight outside an IHOP when he was killed, KSAT reported.

The officer, who was working security for the restaurant, was trying to stop a fight between a group of people inside the restaurant around 4 a.m., KABB reported. The fight escalated and spilled into the parking lot, the television station reported.

The San Antonio ISD identified the off-duty officer as Detective Cliff Martinez, KENS reported.

Update 3:15 a.m. EST Dec. 24: Two men were arrested in the death of Detective Cliff Martinez, KSAT reported.

Jorge Lopez, 23, was charged with capital murder Sunday, according to Officer Douglas Greene, public information officer with the San Antonio Police Department. Lopez also faces a charge of felony drug possession, according to Bexar County booking records.

Alfredo Martinez, 29, was booked on a capital murder charge Saturday night, KSAT reported.

Original report: Martinez, a 28-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department, was assaulted in the parking lot and was left on the ground, a spokesman for the police department told the television station. Martinez then was run over when the suspects drove away in a vehicle, KENS reported.

Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene, KSAT reported.

San Antonio ISD released a statement after the detective’s death was reported.

“SAISD is deeply saddened to learn of the death of our Detective Cliff Martinez early this morning while working off-duty at an IHOP. He was a highly-respected member of the SAISD Police Department, who worked for the department for 28 years. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”

An investigation is ongoing, police said.

About the Author