Hunters and gatherers: US Marshals nab their quarry and let others ask the questions

“If something kicks in, there’s no round in the chamber,” says US Deputy Marshal Tom Smith bluntly, thumbing at the Colt AR-15 automatic rifle stashed behind his car seat.

It takes a few seconds to digest what he exactly means before it becomes clear: If this stakeout gets ugly and I end up the only one on this side of the line still standing, I should grab his weapon and pull the trigger.

Twice.

At least, having never fired a gun before, I think that’s what he’s suggesting.

All of a sudden, I need to piss.

Welcome to San Antonio, Texas, on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. You could visit the Alamo, take a stroll along the popular Riverwalk, eat a taco, or instead take part in a stakeout with local US Marshals hunting a killer. So, here we are.

Rewind: In January 2008, Fernando Palomino was allegedly one of three men behind a “massacre” (as one TV station reported) in Chicago. Palamino and two buddies bound four people with duct tape in an apartment and shot them execution style.

One victim survived. One killer was caught. Palomino ran and, according to an informant, is today hiding out in San Antonio with a girlfriend in an apartment across the street…