Security Guard Dead After Jumping In Front Of Flying Bullets For Coworker
SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) -- A security guard killed in San Jose apparently gave his own life to protect a coworker.
They were working at B-boss nightclub on Saturday night when a robbery next door caught their attention.
The suspects took $20 worth of cigars and hopped in a getaway car. Then someone inside the car pulled a gun and started shooting.
A coworker says 34-year-old Manny Zuniga jumped into the line of fire.
"The first bullet went past my head, and then after that I noticed Manny jumped in front of the line of fire," he said, wishing to stay anonymous. "He then, he took all the bullets that were aimed directly at me, and saved my life."
Friends and coworkers say Zuniga's natural inclination was to pursue suspects despite the danger.
The ring of candles, flowers, cigarettes and beer around Zuniga's car was still growing Monday. Zuniga, a security guard at a San Jose night club, was shot and killed after he tried to defend a business next door. The memorial is testament to how much everyone loved him.
Liquor store manager Sonny Gia is devastated. He said he has lost a good friend.
"Because we work long hours… we want to have fun, you know?" said Gia. "We play around, we joke around and right now, I cannot find him anymore... and I cry coming here… I cry about 20 minutes."
Zuniga's family is still trying to make sense of his death.
"He was a pretty special person, pretty happy. Always smiling," said his cousin. "The family is pretty devastated right now. Been trying to find out who was it. They have to pay for what they did."
So far, the suspects are still on the loose. They made off with cigars and about $40 in cash.
Investigators are reviewing a surveillance tape in hopes it will lead them to the killers.
The shooting was San Jose's third murder of 2015.
