Security Guard Arrested In San Bernardino Pot Shop Murder

SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) —  Police arrested a pot shop security guard for allegedly shooting and killing 34-year-old Thomas Loftus at the dispensary in San Bernardino early Tuesday morning.

Investigators say there's some discrepancies between 24-year-old Lance Cobb's story and the business surveillance video in the shooting at West Foothill Boulevard and Monte Vista Avenue.

Officers say Loftus caused a scuffle at the shop, but when it ended he appeared to be leaving and that's when he was shot by the security guard.

Also, dispensary employees didn't call 911 right away, instead waited several minutes according to police.

People inside that car, who were seen moments before opening up the shop's back door did not want to be interviewed.

Customers say the shop has new owners and the security was a lot tighter than in the past.

"They take security measures very seriously but I don't know what happened here," an unidentified witness said. "These places aren't the type of places to make a scene because security is an important measure you know."

The surveillance video has been turned over to the district attorney to figure out what happened.

Police are checking to see if the pot shop was licensed.

In a statement, Matthew Pappas, the attorney representing the dispensary, said video surveillance showed the guard acted in self-defense and the shop "was and is in full compliance with state law."