Plano police continue their investigation into a deadly shooting Thursday evening at a Plano shopping center at the intersection of Custer and Parker roads.
Police said they determined an argument broke out between the suspect, 41-year-old Alireza Nikmanesh, and victim, 36-year old Kevin Michael Murray.
During the argument, police said Nikmanesh went to his vehicle to retrieve a handgun, which he allegedly fired at Murray multiple times.
Plano police said the two men were co-workers, and NBC 5 confirmed Kevin Murray was an Area Coach for Pizza Hut.
In statement from the company, Pizza Hut President David Gibbs said:
“There are no words that can express the grief and sadness we feel as a result of this tragedy. This hit us all very hard. Kevin was a beloved member of the Pizza Hut Family and an outstanding person and team member. He had worked his way up from restaurant general manager to Area Coach in a short time through hard work and always doing the right thing. Obviously, our employees and their safety is a TOP priority for us. We are fully cooperating with local law enforcement as part of their investigation. Our sincerest heartfelt sympathies go out to Kevin’s family, friends and our fellow team members affected by this senseless tragedy.”
Plano police said Murray was shot multiple times.
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An off-duty Plano Fire-Rescue captain was nearby and rushed to try and save Murray’s life.
Capt. Michael Vernon said he and his 15-year-old daughter pulled in to the shopping center to get dinner just moments after the shooting and before police arrived.
“Someone was actually telling me to go away,” Vernon said. “One of the store reps was kinda telling me to go away, and I was parked probably within five feet of the gentleman who was down, and I didn’t see him at the time until she pointed him out and said that he was shot.”
Vernon made sure his 15-year-old daughter was safe, and then made sure no one else was in danger by making sure there wasn’t an active shooter still in the area.
Vernon said the suspected gunman, now identified as Nikmanesh, didn’t have a weapon at the time.
“Not at the time, not when I arrived. He had already put it in the car and was sitting down and was just sitting within five to seven feet of the guy he shot, just staring at him,” Vernon said.
“He just raised his hand and said I shot him, and those are the only words I got out of him, and the fact that the gun was in the car when I asked him where the gun was. Very cooperative, didn’t move, just as calm as could be,” Vernon said.
Vernon then rushed to perform CPR on Murray.
“I checked for a pulse first and tried to jostle him to see if was alert,” Vernon said. “He wasn’t responding. There was no pulse at the time. He did have agonal respirations, so I thought there may be some viability there and I immediately started chest-only compressions, which is basically what we teach in the fire service these days.”
Murray was then taken to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Nikmanesh is being held in the Collin County Detention Center and has been charged with murder, according to police.
