A Texas Tattoo Studio Employee Got Fired. Then, His Former Boss Shot Him Dead, Cops Say.

The owner of a tattoo shop in Texas has been arrested after he allegedly shot and killed an employee he just fired, according to officials.

Around 2:15 p.m. on Aug. 15, officers responded to the Vato Loco Tattoo Studio in Arlington after receiving a call from the owner, 42-year-old Javier Arredondo, about an employee who was just fired and was refusing to leave the shop, according to the Arlington Police Department.

While police were en route, officers received a report that shots had been fired at the store, officials said.

Responding officers found the 46-year-old employee, who has not yet been identified, lying on the ground suffering a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Detectives learned that Arredondo and the victim got into an argument regarding the employee’s firing, officials said. Arredondo told police the victim was demanding his final paycheck.

Police said the victim was reportedly becoming aggressive, shaking a display case and knocking items off a counter. Arredondo said he feared the victim would hurt him.

Arredondo called 911, but minutes later the business owner pulled out a gun and fired multiple times at the victim.

At the time of the shooting, there were no other people inside the store, officials said. Prior to the shooting, Arredondo told the three employees inside the shop at the time to leave through a back door.

Those three employees all talked with police, saying they heard up to three gunshots, officials said.

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Court records state Arredondo told police the victim didn’t make any threats, present a weapon or make physical contact with him.

Based on that, the affidavit stated “Arredondo provided no provision under the law that would have allowed the use of deadly force to protect himself or any innocent third party."

Arredondo was arrested and charged with murder. He was booked into the Arlington City Jail and is being held without bond.