Security guard shot, killed at San Bernardino marijuana dispensary

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- A search is underway for two suspects after a security guard was shot and killed at an illegal marijuana dispensary in San Bernardino Monday night.

The shooting happened around 10 p.m. at the unmarked business in the Star World Plaza strip mall on the 2800 block of West Rialto Avenue.

Police say two male suspects tried to rob the place after forcing their way into the back entrance of the building. The suspects opened fire, striking and killing 25-year-old Anthony Victor Pineda.

Investigators say Pineda was able to fire back and possibly wounded one of the suspects.

"The suspects, either one or two of them, were hit due to physical evidence," said Lt. Rich Lawhead with the San Bernardino Police Department.

According to police, the suspects fled the scene following the shooting, and it doesn't appear that anything was stolen. As the suspects ran across the parking lot, witnesses say they heard one of them stating that he had been shot.

Family members were clearly distraught, as Pineda's body was removed by the coroner early Tuesday morning.

It's unclear who else was in the building at the time of the shooting. Police say the employees and owners of the pot dispensary are not cooperating with investigators and won't even give police the access code to security footage that may lead authorities to the suspects. Police are working to break that code.

Police say Pineda was left locked inside the pot shop after being shot.

"Somebody actually locked the business. We actually had to force entry to get to the victim and check his status," said Lawhead.

Pineda was pronounced dead at the scene. Those who knew the victim remember him as a respectful and hardworking young man.

"He was a really cool guy, never had any problems," said friend Michael Velasquez.

Pineda was supposed to work the Oscars this weekend; his Oscar credential was found in his car. His friends say that he was proud of his job as a security guard.

"He was always nice. He was nice, respectful. He did his job, and he gave his life for his job," said Velasquez.

No suspect description was immediately available. Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to contact Det. Joshua Cunningham at (909) 384-5745 or Sgt. Carl Williams at (909) 693-6665.

This is the second shooting at the same strip mall in less than a year. On July 10, 2014, 27-year-old Juan Carlos Villapudua was fatally shot in the parking lot.