Dallas man tries to rob illegal game room worker, instead shoots and kills the man, police say

A Dallas man tried to rob a game room worker, but it ended with gunfire and the worker dead, police said.

Laurentino Belmares Jr., 26, was in the game room along with worker Thong Nguyen, 63, and another man on the morning of May 2, police said. The game room was operating illegally. 

Authorities said surveillance footage showed Nguyen putting a large amount of money into his shirt pocket, which caught the attention of Belmares.

Footage then showed Nguyen walking Belmares to the door, but Belmares pulled out a gun and tried to grab the cash, according to police.

Nguyen punched Belmares and then pulled out his own gun when both men fired, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Police said that Nguyen was struck in the head, and Belmares was shot in the ankle. Nguyen died three days later.

Belmares drove home and was later taken to a local hospital by a relative, police said.

Using a photo lineup, the witness at the game room identified Belmares, authorities said.

Police talked with Belmares at the hospital and he said he shot Nguyen, but it was Nguyen who pulled a gun on him first. Police said the video footage contradicted Belmares' story.

Belmares was booked into the Dallas County jail and he remains in custody on charges of capital murder and aggravated robbery. His bail was set at $1.25 million.