Guard Fatally Stabbed In Sylmar After Confronting Would-Be Beer Thief
SYLMAR (CBSLA.com) — A security guard was stabbed and killed Sunday at the Food 4 Less on Glenoaks Boulevard in Sylmar.
LAPD said about 2:45 p.m. a man in his 20s went into the Food 4 Less at Glenoaks and Beaver and tried to steal beer.
The security guard -- who was about to end his shift -- tried to stop him. The man ran off and the guard followed.
On the sidewalk the two got into some sort of fight and police said the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed the guard, then ran to a house where police later arrested him.
Officials said the knife was not recovered.
The guard was taken to the hospital and died there. The guard -- described by family members as sweet and kind -- was also in his 20s.
CBS 2's Cristy Fajardo spoke to customers and members of the man's family.
The victim was very friendly and customers said always willing to help out with heavy bags. They couldn't believe he was killed over a couple of beers.
"I'm just shocked to find out that this is the way somebody can get their life ended, you know, over some beer," said the victim's cousin, Moises Tagle.
The suspect had a history in the Food 4 Less and customers were able to lead police to him. The suspect lives across the street and was in such a hurry to flee the scene of the stabbing, witnesses said he almost got hit by several cars as he raced across the street.
"The whole family is devastated, I'm sure," Tagle said, "it's just a sad time for our family."
