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Apr 18, 2007 7:21 pm US/Central
Family Of ATM Murder Victim Talks To CBS 11 News
by Clif Caldwell
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
The family of a man who was murdered on his birthday is telling their story to CBS 11 News. José Landa was shot and killed Monday during an ATM robbery in Dallas' Oak Lawn area.
According to those who knew him, Landa was a young man with ambition, a loving wife and beautiful 5-month-old baby girl. Landa's life and relationships ended Monday, apparently at the hands of a thief who took nothing but the man's life.
Alicia Landa held her husband as he lay dying. "I had him in my arms and I was just yelling and saying, 'someone please help me'," she said. "He was bleeding pretty bad."
The Landa's and friends were out Monday night celebrating José's 31st birthday along Cedar Springs Road.
José went to an ATM for money, it was then police say the father encountered three or four crooks that they believe were staking out the machine, waiting for a victim.
The gunman used a handgun to fire the single fatal shot to Landa's face.
Landa's wife held the couples baby daughter Nicole while talking about how the two had hoped to have two or three more children. Alicia says her husband provided for the family by working two jobs - one in construction, the other as a manager at a Taco Bell.
The young widow admits she's very angry but says she is turning to the Lord for help. "I just wanted to say [to the gunman], 'God bless your soul' – 'cause he's gonna need it."
Alicia says her husband always saw the glass of life as 'half full' and she hopes to wrap her baby in that positive spirit as she believes José would want her to.
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