Unlicensed Texas Security Guard Charged With Murder
HOUSTON, Texas February 3rd, 2024 An unlicensed restaurant security guard, accused of fatally shooting a customer for paying with counterfeit money, celebrated afterward, according to court records.
Hugo Daniel Bahena Dominguez, 25, is charged with murder for the Dec. 21 shooting. He was arrested at his home in Pasadena on Tuesday.
HPD officers originally responded to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital in the 7600 block of Beechnut to a call of a shooting victim being dropped off.
The wounded victim was identified as 30-year-old Eric Colin. Police said he suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the hospital.
According to police, Bahena Dominguez was working as a security guard at Ruchi’s Mexican Grill restaurant in the 3200 block of 610 South Loop West when the shooting happened. The restaurant did not respond to ABC13’s request for comment.
Court records state two male diners ran out of the restaurant to a waiting car. They were followed by Bahena Dominguez.
A witness told police he yelled “stop” and then fired his pistol twice. Bahena Dominquez reportedly told that same witness he did it because they “ran up a tab” and tried to pay with counterfeit money.
The driver then drove Colin to the hospital, where he died.
In court on Wednesday, the hearing officer said she believed a high bond was necessary.
“The fact that Mr. Bahena Dominguez is accused of shooting and killing the complainant who was accused of dining and dashing from the restaurant where he worked as a security guard,” she reasoned.
Bahena Dominguez told police that he was alerted by an employee to the men trying to pay with counterfeit money, records state.
After the shooting, he was captured on surveillance video “bumping fists with employees.” Records also state he picked up two cartridge casings and went back into the restaurant without calling 911.
Police later recovered the casings, which had been placed in a coffee can, along with the fake money.
Bahena Dominguez told the court he works for a security company. Online records show he is not licensed. According to court documents, he said he was in the process of obtaining his license at the time of the shooting.
His bond was set at $500,000.
