Safeway worker shot dead in clash with shopper, California cops say. ‘Horrendous’

A Safeway employee died after being shot by a customer in an early-morning dispute inside the San Jose supermarket, California police say.

The employee died at the scene following the 3:35 a.m. shooting Sunday, June 5, in the 1500 block of Hamilton Avenue, San Jose police said in a news release..

Co-workers told KNTV the worker, identified by his family as Manuel Huizar Cornejo, 24, may have confronted someone stealing liquor at the 24-hour supermarket before being shot.

The assailant, an adult male, has not been identified and remains at large, police said.

“I think it’s absolutely horrendous and awful and he was a lovely young man,” co-worker Jaime Sterling told KNTV. She described Cornejo as “always very cheerful.”

“I’m shocked, but I’m not surprised,” customer Peggy Lambdin told KTVU. The supermarket remained closed Sunday while police investigated.

Police ask that anyone with information on the case call 408-277-5283 or email 3600@sanjoseca.gov or 4245@sanjoseca.gov.

This story was originally published June 6, 2022 at 8:39 AM with the headline "Safeway worker shot dead in clash with shopper, California cops say. ‘Horrendous’."