San Jose police are investigating a shooting that resulted in the death of a security guard over the weekend.
A memorial was still growing Monday for Manuel Zuniga, 34, who was shot and killed Saturday night outside the Liquor 4 Less store in the 300 block of North Capitol in East San Jose.
Zuniga was a security guard at the BBOSS nightclub. On Saturday night, someone tried to steal cigars from a nearby liquor store, but dropped them in the parking lot. When Zuniga stopped to help pick them up, someone opened fire from inside a waiting car, authorities said.
Sandra Morales said her son, Jonathan, who also worked the front entrance of the club, is still alive because of Zuniga. “In my eyes he will always be a hero,” Morales said Monday. “It’s not something that any parent should have to endure. Ever.”
34 yo Manny Zuniga was working as a security guard at a night club when it happened. To help his family: http://t.co/pXn4pB6IEV
— Michelle Roberts (@Michelle_NBC) February 17, 2015Morales said her son and Zuniga were working outside the nightclub when they noticed a robbery at the liquor store next door.
Liquor store owner Sonny Gia told NBC Bay Area a man barged in to his shop at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday night and stole a cigar display case worth $20. Morales said Zuniga and her son confronted the thief before he got into the getaway car. That’s when the thief opened fire, Gia said.
“My son was in the line of fire, and once Manny saw the weapon he jumped in front of my son and saved his life,” Morales said.
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Now, Morales is trying to raise money for the man who she says saved her son's life. “I just want justice,” she said. “I want them to turn themselves in and pay the price for the crimes that they did.”
Zuniga was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries a short time later.
The gunman in San Jose's third homicide of 2015 has not been arrested and police have not disclosed a motive.
