Phoenix security guard killed outside of business, suspect caught
PHOENIX - The Phoenix Police Department has made an arrest after a security guard was shot and killed while working outside a Phoenix hookah shop last weekend.
During the early morning hours of May 20 near 27th and Northern avenues, police responded to a shooting report. When they got there, they found a man who had been shot.
The victim was taken to the hospital and died from his injuries. He was identified as 50-year-old Nixon Petit.
Police say Petit was working as a security guard for the business he was shot outside of.
On May 24, police announced that Justine Demunga, 26, was arrested in connection to Petit's murder in Oro Valley. Demunga reportedly had fled before police arrived.
Court documents allege that Demunga tried to get past the security screening without being patten down for weapons. Petit tried to de-escalate the situation and a struggle ensued.
Police say surveillance video showed both men falling down, and Demunga pulled out a gun and opened fire.
Detectives found eight shell casings at the scene.
Demunga was booked into jail on multiple charges, including second-degree murder.
'Loved by his community'
Bernice Petit says her life will forever be changed after her uncle went to work one night, but never returned.
"I’m a chemistry and criminal justice major, so I’ve spent a lot of time working in the system and I just couldn’t believe it right away ‘cause in my head I was just like, ’My uncle? Shot and killed?' Like what? I’ve read these cases. I have read news articles, I didn’t think I’d be reading one about my own family," Bernice said.
She says he was the goofy uncle, always supportive and there for his family.
"He would call all of us his superstars, and I’d always be like, ‘What is wrong with you uncle Nixon? What’s a superstar?' and now I’m just like, who’s going to call me a superstar?" she said.
"This was a loved one. This was someone who was loved by his community," Bernice said.
A GoFundMe for Petit can be found here: https://gofund.me/9470f5e9
Map of where the shooting happened: