Security Guard Killed In San Bernardino Marijuana Dispensary Robbery
SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — Police Tuesday were looking for two suspects who shot and killed a 25-year-old security guard at a marijuana dispensary.
The shooting happened around 10 p.m. Monday in the 2800 block of W. Rialto Avenue, San Bernardino police said.
Witnesses said the men tried to rob the store just before closing when shots were fired.
The guard, identified as Anthony Pineda of Rowland Heights, was able to wound one of the suspects before he died, officials said.
"Witnesses heard the suspect state that he had been shot as he ran across the parking lot," Sgt. Carl Williams.
Police believe that one suspect could be in critical condition based on the large amount of blood found outside the store. An alert has been put out to local hospitals for a gunshot victim.
When officers arrived on scene, they found the dispensary's doors locked.
"They broke the front glass door . . . and found the victim alone in a back room," Sgt. Williams added.
Detectives were trying to access security camera footage, but employees were not cooperating with the investigation as marijuana dispensaries are illegal in San Bernardino.
"It's very frustrating. I mean I just think if it was your loved one in there . . . we could do our job a lot better if everyone would be cooperative with us and just give us the information," Lt. Rich Lawhead said.
Monday night's incident was the second fatal shooting to occur in the strip mall within a year.
In July 2014, a 28-year-old man was shot in the back and police have yet to make an arrest in the case.
