A 23-year-old gunman was shot and killed early Monday morning by a security guard and a civilian outside a Dallas business, marking the city’s 10th homicide in July, according to police.
The shooting occurred around 4:25 a.m. on July 21 in the 2000 block of West Northwest Highway, where a disturbance between two groups escalated into deadly violence.
Police say Anthony Cristobal, 23, retrieved a firearm from a vehicle and pointed it at Anthony Aguilera, 22, after an altercation. A commissioned security guard, Luisadolfo Mena, 26, witnessed the threat and issued loud verbal commands for Cristobal to drop the weapon.
At that moment, Aguilera allegedly assaulted someone from Cristobal’s group. Cristobal then opened fire.
Mena and Heriberto Aguilera, 21, returned fire, striking Cristobal. Additional security personnel at the scene rendered aid until Dallas Fire-Rescue arrived. Cristobal was transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Police are treating the fatal shooting as a homicide, documented under case number 103538-2025. The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office will review the case through a grand jury referral to determine whether the use of deadly force by Mena and Aguilera was justified.
Anthony Aguilera was arrested and charged with assault in connection with the altercation that preceded the shooting (Case #103644-2025). He remains in the Dallas County Jail. Heriberto Aguilera was also arrested and faces a weapons violation (Case #103751-2025). Police have not clarified whether Anthony and Heriberto Aguilera are related.
Cristobal’s death marks the 10th homicide in Dallas this month, highlighting continued concerns about late-night violence at entertainment venues and the complex dynamics around armed self-defense by both security professionals and civilians.
Just hours later, a separate fatal shooting claimed the life of 19-year-old Keyunte Lewis in the 2500 block of Bahama Drive — Dallas’ 9th homicide of the month.
The investigation is being led by Detective C. Evans (#7098). Anyone with information is urged to contact him at 214-671-4743 or [email protected].