Safeway employee shot, killed inside California store

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A Safeway employee was fatally shot during a Sunday robbery inside one of the supermarket’s San Jose stores.

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Family members identified the victim as 24-year-old Manuel Huizar Cornejo, KNTV reported.

According to San Jose police, Cornejo and another man were involved in an altercation just before the fatal shooting, the TV station reported.

The altercation occurred at around 3:30 a.m. local time after Cornejo encountered a man stealing liquor from the Willow Glen neighborhood store, KTVU reported.

“The motive and circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation,” San Jose Police Officer Steve Aponte said in a news release issued Sunday afternoon.

The victim’s brother, Guillermo Huizar Cornejo, told KNTV that only “two individuals know why this occurred.”

“The first one is being grieved and mourned by his family members. The other one is out of custody and we’re still looking for that person,” Guillermo Huizar Cornejo told the TV station.

Safeway released a statement saying the following:

“Safeway is mourning the tragic loss of one of our associates. We’re deeply saddened by this tragic incident. Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts are with his family. We are sending our deepest and heartfelt condolences to them.”

The suspect remained at large Monday night, KTVU reported.

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