Security Guard Shot Dead at Illegal Pot Dispensary

A security guard was shot dead during an apparent botched robbery at an illegally operated marijuana dispensary in San Bernardino Monday.

The shooting occurred at the strip mall store on the 2800 block of West Rialto Avenue at 10:15 p.m, the San Bernardino Police Department said.

Two assailants forced their way into the business as it was closing for the night, and at least one opened fire on a security guard in a backroom. The security guard returned fire and one of the subjects was shot, police said.

When officers arrived they had to force entry because workers had locked up the business.

A pool of blood was found outside the shop. Officers found the security guard, identified as 25-year-old Anthony Victor Pineda, alone in the backroom.

San Bernardino Police said people who work at the business have been "very uncooperative," going as far as to claim they do not have a code to access the surveillance footage. Their Hi-Tech Crime Unit will attempt to crack the encryption and gain access to the footage.

The store is one of up to 35 illegal marijuana dispensaries in the city.