HOUSTON – A security guard has been charged with murder after police said he shot a man to death in southeast Houston.
Houston Police Department Lt. Larry Crowson confirmed Wednesday the security guard, who was later identified as 27-year-old Lance Campbell, was charged in connection with the death of Michael Haynie, a 60-year-old man rummaging through a dumpster on the property of a washateria.
Star Protection Agency confirms Campbell was one of its security guards who patrolled the area in the 7800 block of Bellfort Street.
Crowson said Campbell had seen Haynie in the area Monday. During that encounter, Campbell told the man to stay away or he would seek trespassing charges against him, according to police.
Around 9 p.m. Tuesday, Campbell spotted Haynie rummaging through a dumpster and throwing trash out of the bin, police said.
“The security guard had advised the male the day before not to be on the premises and that they were trespassing, and (the security guard) saw him return tonight,” Crowson said. “He saw him digging through a dumpster, pulling trash out into the parking lot, kind of making a mess. The security officer approached him and advised him to leave the complex once again.”
Campbell told police when he approached Haynie, the man became aggressive and walked toward the guard. Campbell fired one shot, killing the man, police said.
Surveillance video obtained from the property contradicted Campbell’s story, according to police. On Wednesday, the guard made his first appearance before a probable cause court judge. It was in the courtroom that prosecutors said investigators determined the statements Campbell made were not consistent with the evidence found at the scene.
Prosecutors said the video police viewed shows Campbell approaching Haynie, turning over the victim’s cart, then drawing a gun on the man.
“The complainant stands up with his hands to his sides and appears to take one step forward. However, he does not charge or attack the defendant,” prosecutors said. “The defendant then raises his weapon one time. The complainant falls to the ground unconscious immediately. The defendant is seen making a call on his cellphone, pulls some type of rag from the overturned cart and threw it on the complainant’s neck.”
The video goes on to show Campbell leaving and returning a minute later wearing gloves to do a chest compression, according to prosecutors.
No one inside the washateria was hurt.
Campbell is in the Harris County Jail on a $75,000 bond.