Daniel Perales

A man is shot to death while working at U-Totem Icehouse
A hardworking teenager’s life was cut short in a matter of moments during a robbery in San Antonio, a crime that has remained unsolved for decades. Daniel Perales, a 17-year-old male who had recently been discharged from the U.S. Army, was diligently working to build a future for himself and his family. He held two jobs to support his loved ones, a testament to his sense of responsibility and dedication at such a young age. His life was a promising one, rooted in service and hard work, but it ended in an act of sudden violence that has left a family without answers.

On the evening of Wednesday, January 28, 1976, Daniel was working his shift alone at the U-Totem Icehouse, a convenience store located at 4802 Thousand Oaks Drive. It was a night that would forever alter the lives of his family. At some point during his shift, one or more unknown individuals entered the store with the intent to rob it. Daniel was behind the counter when he was shot a single time in the chest. The assailant or assailants then took $107 from the cash register and fled the scene, leaving the young veteran mortally wounded.

When officers from the San Antonio Police Department arrived at the U-Totem, they discovered a tragic scene. Daniel was found lying on the floor behind the counter, having succumbed to his gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the location, the very place where he had been working to provide for his family. The initial investigation was extensive, but the trail for the person or people responsible for Daniel’s murder eventually went cold.

For years, the case remained dormant, one of many unsolved homicides in the city's files. However, the San Antonio Police Department has not forgotten Daniel Perales. The investigation is now in the hands of the SAPD's Cold Case Squad, a dedicated unit that re-examines unsolved murders in the hope that new technology, witnesses, or information can finally bring a resolution. Decades after the crime, investigators have publicly identified a person who may have been involved or could be a crucial witness.

This individual was identified as "Billy Lopez," who was 17 years old at the time of the murder in 1976. Police believe he may have critical information that could break the case open, but his role and whereabouts have remained a central question in this long-standing investigation. The release of his name more than 40 years after the crime signaled a renewed push for answers and a hope that someone in the community might remember something from that night.

As of March 2022, the murder of Daniel Perales remains an active cold case. The fundamental questions persist: who entered the U-Totem Icehouse that night and why did a robbery for a mere $107 escalate to the taking of a young man's life? For Daniel's family, the passage of time has not diminished the pain of their loss or their desire for justice.

The San Antonio Police Department continues to ask for the public’s help. Detectives are urging anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Anyone who knew "Billy Lopez" or has knowledge of the events that transpired on January 28, 1976, is encouraged to contact the SAPD Cold Case Squad in the Homicide Unit at 210-207-7635.