DORAVILLE, Ga. — A growing memorial outside the Honduran Consulate Office in DeKalb County honors the sacrifice of Jesus Loera, a security guard who was shot and killed while protecting people from a gunman trying to enter the building.
“It’s really sad the way he went out, but I’m very happy that he saved a bunch of lives from being taken that day,” Josue Valdez, one of the mourners who added flowers to the memorial, told Channel 2′s Matt Johnson.
Loera, originally from Mexico, died during the attack, which occurred around 2:30 p.m. in front of the consulate. Doraville police arrested 32-year-old Jose Emanuel Olmo-Rosado on Monday and charged him with murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
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According to the police report, a witness saw Olmo-Rosado trying to push into the Consulate when Loera sprayed pepper spray. That’s when the witness says Olmo-Rosado shot Loera four or five times in the chest.
Police said Olmo-Rosado attempted to flee the scene after the double shooting, which also left another person injured. A motive for the attack has not been released.
“If [Jesus] wouldn’t have been here that day, it would have been another tragic story,” said a friend of Loera who stopped by to pay respects.
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Loera is survived by his wife and son. Friends describe him as a dedicated professional who gave his life to protect others.
In a letter posted to social media, the Honduran government praised Loera’s heroic actions and announced three days of mourning in his honor.
“He died protecting us, you know. Not even being from our country, he gave it all for us,” one mourner said.
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