Security guard, shot at Las Vegas supermarket, remembered as ‘compassionate’

By Estelle Atkinson Las Vegas Review-Journal

5 months ago

Luby Grunden, a spokesperson for the family of Alexander Maceo-Sanabria, speaks during a news c ... — Luby Grunden, a spokesperson for the family of Alexander Maceo-Sanabria, speaks during a news conference outside the Marketon supermarket at the intersection of North Decatur Boulevard and West Washington Avenue on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. Maceo-Sanabria was shot outside the supermarket while working as a security guard on July 20. He later died. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Luby Grunden, right, a spokesperson for the family of Alexander Maceo-Sanabria, is comforted after being interviewed during a news conference outside the Marketon supermarket at the intersection of North Decatur Boulevard and West Washington Avenue on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. Maceo-Sanabria was shot outside the supermarket while working as a security guard on July 20. He later died. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Luby Grunden, right, a spokesperson for the family of Alexander Maceo-Sanabria, speaks during a news conference outside the Marketon supermarket at the intersection of North Decatur Boulevard and West Washington Avenue on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. Maceo-Sanabria was shot outside the supermarket while working as a security guard on July 20. He later died. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Luby Grunden, a spokesperson for the family of Alexander Maceo-Sanabria, speaks during a news conference outside the Marketon supermarket at the intersection of North Decatur Boulevard and West Washington Avenue on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. Maceo-Sanabria was shot outside the supermarket while working as a security guard on July 20. He later died. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

A Marketon supermarket at the intersection of North Decatur Boulevard and West Washington Avenue on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. Alexander Maceo-Sanabria, a security guard at the supermarket, was shot while working on July 20. He later died. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Luby Grunden, second from right, a spokesperson for the family of Alexander Maceo-Sanabria, is comforted after being interviewed a news conference outside the Marketon supermarket at the intersection of North Decatur Boulevard and West Washington Avenue on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. Maceo-Sanabria was shot outside the supermarket while working as a security guard on July 20. He later died. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

A small memorial sits outside the Marketon supermarket at the intersection of North Decatur Boulevard and West Washington Avenue on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. Alexander Maceo-Sanabria, a security guard at the supermarket, was shot while working on July 20. He later died. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The family of a security guard who was shot at a west Las Vegas supermarket has spoken out in his memory after he died following “several days fighting for his life,” according to a statement from the family.

Alexander Maceo-Sanabria, a security guard for the Marketon at 840 N. Decatur Blvd., was shot when he tried to stop a suspect from stealing groceries on July 20.

“Alexander was a compassionate, hardworking individual who put others first,” his family said in a statement. “He was also known for his kindness, his dedication to his job and his unwavering commitment to keep others safe.”

His family said he loved his job and was “the pillar of his family always.” They are currently making arrangements for “him to rest in his final resting place as the Hero he is.”

Maceo-Sanabria “gave the greatest gift of life by donating his organs to save other lives,” his family said.

The man accused of shooting Maceo-Sanabria, 36-year-old Miguel Narro, is facing charges of attempted murder, robbery and battery with a deadly weapon.

Luis Lopez, the 40-year-old man who authorities say Maceo-Sanabria was trying to stop from stealing, is facing robbery and battery charges after prosecutors dropped a charge for attempted murder.

Luby Grunden, a spokesperson for Maceo-Sanabria’s family and his colleague at Marketon, said Maceo-Sanabria was always joking around and would make every room brighter. She said she finds it “mind blowing” that the law allows Lopez to face a lesser charge for his role in the incident.

Speaking through a translator, Grunden said that she feels that anyone who allowed the shooting to happen should be treated as an accomplice in the shooting.

If Lopez faces a shorter jail sentence, Grunden said, the family will not have the luxury of knowing that even though they can’t get their loved one back, both suspects will be in jail for a long time.

The family does not feel safe, Grunden said through a translator. Maceo-Sanabria is leaving behind his partner of nine years and two children, as well as his mother and brother who live in Cuba.

He was the breadwinner of the family and supported them all, Grunden said. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help them in the wake of his passing, and Marketon has vowed to match all donations, she said.

“The medical and funeral expenses increased drastically, so we appeal to the collaboration of this beautiful community that Alexander served for many years,” his family said in a statement.

“We still do not have details of the funeral due to the complexity of the case, we ask for understanding and comprehension especially since this is a case that will go to court,” they wrote.

Contact Estelle Atkinson at eatkinson@reviewjournal.com. 7@7 En Español Anchor and Co-Producer Rosana Romero contributed to this report.