Security Guard Shoots Man to Death at Bar

A security guard fatally shot a man Friday afternoon at a bar after the man wounded him, police said.

The security guard, Marco Antonio Chavez, 27, of Santa Ana, is in stable condition at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, police said. The assailant, whose identity was undetermined, died on arrival at the same hospital.

The shooting occurred at 3 p.m. at the Red Baron Bar, 1815 S. Main St. Police, who interviewed Chavez at the hospital, determined that he shot in self-defense, said Lt. Robert Helton.

Chavez told police he and the other man had been involved in a fight several years ago at another bar where Chavez worked at the time, Helton said. Last month, the man came into the Red Baron and apparently recognized Chavez, Helton said. There was no confrontation from that chance meeting.

Friday, as Chavez was sitting on a stool in the back of the bar, the man approached the guard and told him he had a gun, Chavez told police. The man pulled a gun from his pants and began shooting at Chavez, Helton said.

Chavez stood up and returned fire, shooting his assailant five times, Helton said. Chavez, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was wounded in the left hand.

At the time of the shooting, there was only one other customer and three waitresses at the bar, Helton said.

The investigation is continuing.