Two men allegedly shot and killed a Marine veteran in the parking garage of a Texas mall after disrespecting the victim’s fiancee.
Marko Cinan, 23, and Justin Joshua Guzman, 22, have been charged with murder in the death of Anthony Sanders, a 30-year-old Marine veteran who was killed in the Galleria Mall parking garage in Houston.
Around 5 p.m. on June 3, police were dispatched to the mall after receiving reports of a shooting there.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, Sanders’ fiancee informed detectives that he was picking her up from work the night of the shooting. As she was leaving the mall, the fiancee got into an elevator with a group of men, including the defendants, whom she didn’t know.
The fiancee claimed the men asked her a question that she ignored. One of the men then allegedly called her a “stupid, ugly b—.” The men exited the elevator, and the fiancee disembarked on a different floor to meet Sanders.
According to the affidavit, the fiancee told Sanders what had happened, and Sanders then drove around the parking garage with their child in the car to find the men. He noticed the men and drove up to them.
Sanders and the defendants exchanged words before returning to their cars. While exiting the parking garage, the suspects were riding in a Chrysler 300 in front of Sanders when the driver “brake-checked” the alleged victim. According to police, the suspects and Sanders then got out of their cars.
Guzman allegedly tapped his bag and stated, “You don’t want to mess with me.” According to the affidavit, Guzman and Cinan then pulled out their guns and began shooting Sanders. The suspects allegedly fired at least 14 rounds.
After the shooting, cops from the mall converged on the scene. They noticed Sanders’ fiancee screaming for help. Paramedics rushed Sanders to the hospital, where he was declared dead. His fiancee and son were not injured in the shooting.
Guzman and Cinan sped away but were apprehended shortly afterwards. When Guzman got out of the car, at least two spent cartridges fell off his lap, police said. According to police, the suspects continued to fire as they drove away, leaving bullet holes in the Chrysler.
Police initially let the defendants go because the investigation was in its early stages.
When detectives questioned Guzman and Cinan, they allegedly claimed the shooting was in self-defense. According to the affidavit, Guzman informed detectives that they were leaving the mall when Sanders appeared “on their tail.”
He stated that they pulled over and got out of their car to wave Sanders past. However, Guzman claimed that Sanders began threatening them, saying “I’ll f— y’all up,” “Ya’ll are p—ies,” and “I’ll do it to y’all right here.” The defendant claimed Sanders had a gun and a knife on him, but investigators found no weapons on the victim, according to the affidavit.
The victim’s parents, both veterans, spoke to local CBS affiliate KHOU.
“We’re here for justice, justice for Anthony and also to stand for what he stood for as a person, and also to bring awareness to what’s going on in today’s society here in Houston,” said Frank Sanders, his father’s name. “This was uncalled for.”
Sanders’ GoFundMe page described him as a “devoted father.”
Cinan was arrested on June 25, and Guzman turned himself in on Monday. Cinan has a $1 million bond while Guzman is being held on a $750,000 bond. The next court date is scheduled for Wednesday.
