Local workers are increasingly uneasy as this attack and murder occurred in broad daylight versus the usual after hours assaults.
Dallas police and the FBI are investigating the fatal shooting of a security guard who was shot and killed during an apparent robbery outside a credit union in Cockrell Hill Monday morning.
Police said witnesses told them a security officer was servicing an ATM outside the Neighborhood Credit Union at 1515 N. Cockrell Hill Road when he was approached by a man with a rifle at about 8:50 a.m. who police said “demanded property.”
The armed man then shot the security guard, identified as 28-year-old Jose Montes, at least one time.
“A big pop, kind of like a firecracker,” is how a woman who works in the shopping center described the sound of the gunfire.
The woman, who asked not to be identified, said she was getting ready to open up the store at which she works when she heard the gunshot.
“I looked out the window to see what was going on. I saw an individual on his knees with his hands up and his head down and then I saw another individual laying on the ground,” the woman said. “I saw a guy backing away from the armored vehicle and into a four-door sedan.”
She said she called 911 and she and others tried to help Montes.
“We were just trying to as best we could to render aid, and make sure he was as comfortable as possible,” the woman who worked in the shopping center said. “One of the girls from the dentist’s office offered some smelling salt to help keep him conscious. I was still on the phone with 911 operator asking if there’s anything I can do, try to keep everyone back, make sure they had enough room to work.“
According to Dallas police Sgt. Warren Mitchell, officers arrived to find a man wearing a security officer’s uniform on the ground suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Montes was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died.
A second security officer at the scene was not injured.
Mitchell said after the shooting the armed robber was seen loading a duffel bag into a sedan being driven by a woman. Police did not say how much money was believed to be in the bags.
“I didn’t see the driver, I did see the individual get into the car, throw the bag and get into the back of the car and drove off,” the witness said.
Others who work in the shopping strip said they’re on alert. NBC 5 is told discussions were underway about having more deterrents in the area.
“We work here every day. We get out late. This happened during the daytime, imagine what could happen at night time,” Aime Alvarez said. “At least a security guard because there are no cameras in the parking lot.”
A description of the shooter, who remains at large, was not provided by police Monday.
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