Man Killed During Robbery At Dallas Subway
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A man was killed when a robbery at a Subway restaurant in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas turned violent late Sunday night. It happened shortly after 11:00 p.m. in the Wynnewood Village shopping center, near the intersection of Illinois Avenue and Zang Boulevard.
The victim's younger sister identified him as 28-year-old Leonardo Ortega, a longtime employee at the restaurant. She came out to the scene early Monday morning to place roses at the spot where he was shot and killed. The family is now making a plea for justice.
Ortega and a co-worker were cleaning up the shop after closing when, according to police, two suspects came into the restaurant and demanded money. Ortega complied with the orders, but was shot anyway. He was pronounced dead at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.
The suspects got away on foot. The other employee was not injured. She called Ortega's mother late Sunday night to tell her what had happened.
WATCH: Surveillance Video of Subway Murder Suspects
Family members described Ortega as a talented artist and writer who was happy with his job making sandwiches. They cannot make sense of his death. "I don't understand why someone so harmless and thoughtful and passionate person -- his life is gone because somebody wanted some money," stated sister Vanessa Ortega. "Money should never ever come between somebody's life, especially when they have families."
Ortega grew up in the Oak Cliff area. His sister added that the victim had never been robbed on the job before.
"He was a nice, real cool kid," said neighbor Angela Harmon. "He would always greet us with a smile."
"My heart just sunk," said customer Jeanette Hearon. "I come here all the time, and I thank the Lord that there wasn't any customers hurt."
Police are now searching for the two suspects, however, there has been no description yet of those individuals. "I hope justice is served," Ortega's sister said. "He just needs to be found, whoever did it. Use it as an example for anybody else, because you should never take a life, especially over money."
The restaurant is now closed. Police are reviewing the location's surveillance camera video to learn further information about the two suspects.