Convenience Store Employee Critically Wounded in Shooting

A 7-Eleven employee remains in critical condition after being shot while trying to stop suspected shoplifters at a Dallas store.

A convenience store employee is in critical condition after being shot during a confrontation Thursday morning.

Dallas police said the shooting happened just after 6 a.m. at a 7-Eleven store in the 8200 block of East R.L. Thornton service road and Jim Miller Road.

Officers responded to the scene and found a man who had been shot. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

“We just hope that he recovers and hopefully he doesn't pass,” neighbor and customer Abel Sanabria said.

Dallas City Councilman Adam Bazaldua, who represents the area, said the victim was a store employee who tried to stop two suspects from leaving without paying for merchandise. Bazaldua said an argument escalated, and both suspects assaulted the employee before one of them shot him twice.

Police have not released information about the suspects.

Several security cameras around the store could provide investigators with evidence to help identify those responsible.

Neighbors said the shooting is concerning because they know the employees who work at the store.

"I feel terrible because the guy was great," said nearby resident Abel Sanabria. "It's just sad to see somebody like him get shot. If you knew him, he was a good person."

Sanabria said he witnessed a similar confrontation at the store the day before the shooting. According to Sanabria, a person accused of stealing beer pulled a knife when confronted.

The latest violence, he said, is happening too often.

"It’s a normal day for me," Sanabria said. “These things happen out here because it's the high-crime area and, you know, we're just used to it and we just know when to go in and not to come out.”

Dallas police have not announced any arrests and have not released a suspect description.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Dallas police.