Armored truck guard shot in apparent robbery at Target in SW Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police have been reviewing surveillance video to see if they can learn anything more about two men accused in an armored car robbery. The victim has a gunshot wound to the leg and was taken to the hospital.

Just after three this afternoon at Target on South Main Street customers were coming and going. Saleh Aljefra said, "Surprised this happened here. It's a safe area."

Police say as the armored truck employees made a stop, the guard went inside. When he came out someone was waiting for him. Investigators say the thief gave no verbal commands. He pushed the guard to the ground, shot him and robbed him. Sgt. J.E. Reynado said, "You just never know. These security guards have to keep their guards up, it's one of those things. You are in the middle of Houston and unfortunately stuff like this happens."

Hours earlier at this stuffed baked potato place investigators say another Dunbar truck was targeted on MLK. In this case no one was hurt and the thieves didn't get away with anything. Shauna Dunlap with the Houston office of the FBI said these cases are not unlike the aggressive tactics they've seen with armored truck robberies. Today's cases bring the total to eight this year, which is higher than average but has not topped levels from a couple of years ago.

In 2015, guard Alvin Kinney was shot and killed by three men during a robbery near the Galleria. In March of this year, Melvin Moore was killed while servicing an ATM on Airline Drive, police say four suspects were in two vehicles during the crime. In August, armored truck guard David Guzman was servicing this bank ATM on the northwest side when a man ambushed him and killed him before running off with cash.

Dunlap says the robbers are brazen to target armed guards, immediately knowing they are going up against fire power. Investigators will try and determine if the two incidents are linked. But an armed guard and an armed thief could have become a serious shootout with customers all around. "I feel afraid really," said Aljefra.

Police say the suspect who fired the gun was wearing a red hoodie. He jumped into a car believed to be a black or dark colored Chevy Cruz. If you have any information call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.