DUNCANVILLE, Texas — A Duncanville man is recovering in a hospital ICU after being shot twice by suspects who police say followed him home from a bank.
Sebastian Avila has an injured liver and needed part of his lung removed as a result of the gunshot wounds.
The shooting happened around 5:15 p.m. Friday in the 300 block of Linkwood Drive in Duncanville, according to a police news release. This is in the River Oaks neighborhood and south of Lions Park.
Police said investigators believe the suspects followed the victim home after he visited a bank in the area. More information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting was not released.
Jennie Avila, Avila's cousin, said Avila had come home from work after cashing his check at PLS Check Cashers on Camp Wisdom Road, which is a few minutes north of his house.
Surveillance footage on the property shows two masked men approach Avila, ask for money, shooting him, and running away.
In the surveillance video, you can hear one of the suspects saying, "Where that money at?" and "Don't move, homeboy," as he pointed a gun at him. Surveillance video from a different angle shows Avila pulling out a gun right before he gets shot.
Officers responded and found the Avila, who was then taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Avila's brother, who was with him at the time of the shooting, chased after the suspects in his truck. Avila's wife ran outside to find her husband bleeding.
"She just kept saying, 'Sebastian, Sebastian! Don't do this, Sebastian!'" said Jennie.
Jennie told WFAA a nearby neighbor heard the gunshots and ran to Avila with a medical kit, using a shirt he ripped and duct tape as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
She said a realtor nearby at a separate home also rushed over, called 911, and covered Avila's wounds with her coat.
"It's crazy that people would try to steal people's hard-earned money," Jennie said. "Because of their actions, our family will never be the same."
Jennie said Avila is recovering and is moving out of ICU on Monday. She said he is trying his best to get back home to his wife and newborn son.
"He's only had three weeks to enjoy his child and now he's away from him," said Jennie.
Witnesses reported that the two suspects fled the area in a dark-colored Dodge Charger, but more information about the suspects was not released.
Detectives were reviewing surveillance footage to help identify possible suspects, police said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact detective Kyle Welling at 972-707-3831.
A GoFundMe has been set-up for Avila's family.