DALLAS — Dallas police are looking for a suspect who shot and killed a security guard in Friday night.
The family of Rufino Hernandez said he died doing what he loves.
Cassie Hernandez couldn't hold back the tears as she shared pictures and talked about her beloved father. "I just called him 'Smiley,' because he was always smiling really big," she said.
The father of two was killed Friday night at a guard shack at the Pecan Way Apartments in South Dallas. Police said someone robbed him, stole his gun, and shot him.
"It's absolutely senseless with him," said friend Brandon Moreno. "He had no enemies."
Hernandez’ family said he wanted to open his own security firm because that's what he loved to do. “He wanted to make sure that people were safe around him," Moreno said.
Hernandez knew his job was dangerous. The apartment complex he guarded is considered by Dallas police to be a problem. Dallas police commanders won't let officers respond to a call there without at least four officers.
On Saturday morning, News 8 saw half a dozen squad cars respond to minor incident at the complex.
"The police actually said he was crazy for being by himself in those complexes," Moreno said.
Hernandez would have been 43 on Monday. His family was planning to celebrate.
“He always treated everyone good… was really silly," Hernandez said, adding the two of them joked around as she drove him to work on his final night. She takes comfort in that.
"I said, 'I love you. Take care.' But I know he's with me and always going to be, and I know that," she said.
Dallas police did not have any suspects in the murder of Rufino Hernandez.
E-mail rlopez@wfaa.com
