SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio police are searching for the man suspected of robbing a traffic guard at gunpoint outside a church west of downtown Sunday morning.
Police say the robbery took place at 8:30 a.m. along the 100 block of South Navidad Street.
Surveillance footage captured images of the masked suspect who is shown wearing all black and holding what appears to be a pistol.
Authorities say the man approached the 42-year-old victim who was directing traffic outside a church and demanded he give up his belongings.
The traffic guard, fearing for his life, gave up less than $200 worth of property, including a phone and walkie-talkie, according to police.
The suspect then ran off with the stolen goods.
San Antonio resident Sylvia walks with her husband to the nearby H-E-B all the time. She says she's being extra vigilant after hearing what unfolded on the first day of Holy Week.
“It’s scary, you can’t walk nowhere anymore. There’s mean people everywhere,” Briones said. “That’s terrible. It shouldn’t be happening.”
Pastor Preston Dixon of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church is disheartened by the news of the robbery.
“It’s a touching moment just hearing about this,” Dixon said.
Dixon and his church community have been confronted with crime committed largely by homeless people.
“You notice the windows over here. They’ve been broken out by homeless. They just come on the parking lot and vandalize,” Dixon said. “We’re living in a society where churches are not exempt by any type of crime.”
Dixon continues to work with law enforcement with the hopes of curbing crime. He’s also coordinating with parishioners to raise funds for installing fencing around the church.
Meanwhile, Dixon is praying for peace following the robbery of the traffic guard.
“The perpetrator, my message would be to him and any others who may be looking, thinking that this may be a vulnerable situation, turn their lives over to Christ. We just pray that they can get it right,” Dixon said.
Crime Stoppers San Antonio is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible. To learn more, go here.