Maintenance worker shot dead by resident mistaking him for a burglar on Christmas Eve
A maintenance worker who was checking pipes in an apartment on Christmas Eve was fatally shot by a resident who allegedly mistook him for a burglar.
Cesar Montelongo, 53, was working on a balcony at the Clayton Point Apartments in Grand Prairie, Texas, around 6pm when a resident spotted him, according to FOX 4. Several pipes had ruptured at the complex.
The resident thought Montelongo was a burglarizing the home and used a firearm to shoot him through the window.
Responding police officers found Montelongo on the balcony with a gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead there.
‘Today, on what was supposed to be his 29th marriage anniversary, he is being grieved by his 5 sons and loving wife,’ Kimberly Montelongo wrote on Christmas on a GoFundMe page for his funeral service.
‘My uncle was a loving and hardworking man who gave his entire life for his family. His devotion to the Lord gave him strength.’
Kimberly added, ‘my uncle was murdered Christmas Eve in an act of senseless violence while at his place of employment’.
The resident who fired the gun stayed at the apartment complex and cooperated with police.
No arrest was immediately made and the incident is under investigation. Police have decided to refer the case to the Tarrant County grand jury.
The GoFundMe page raised more than double its goal, leading the family to close the donations off.
‘We can’t stress it enough that we pray life blesses every single one of you for being there for us,’ wrote Kimberly.
‘We are leaving the gofundme page up (without donations) so everyone is aware of major updates and so we can continue using our voice to get Cesar Montelongo justice.’
His son said he was ‘just a light’.
‘He was always humble, he never bragged about anything or he never gave off any sort of bad vibes like he was a bad person or bad guy,’ Cesar Montelongo Jr told the TV station.
‘Always respectful, always showed the best manners, and he passed that on to us. So I just hope when people see my brothers and I they are able to remember my dad in a positive light.’
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