Arlington business owner with NSFW neck tattoo arrested after shooting employee he just fired, police say

ARLINGTON, Texas - Arlington police say a tattoo shop owner claimed he was in fear when he shot and killed an employee who had just fired.

But the suspect also allegedly told police had a loaded gun ready to go before the confrontation even happened.

Arlington police say the shop owner stayed on scene to talk to officers. They determined he had no reason to use deadly force. The suspect was then taken into custody and charged with murder. 

Saul Medina will miss his friend of seven years, 46-year-old Tony Turgeon. 

"He was my best friend," he said. "It hurts that he is gone."

Police say Turgeon was shot and killed at his job, Vato Loco Tattoo Studio at Cooper and Division Street.

The shop’s owner, 42-year-old Javier Arredondo is now charged with murder. 

Just after 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, police say Arredondo called 911 saying he had just fired Turgeon, and Turgeon refused to leave. 

"As officers were en route, the call got upgraded because shots had been fired," said Arlington Police Sgt. Courtney White.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit FOX 4 obtained Wednesday, Arredondo told police Turgeon demanded his final paycheck and then got angry, shaking a display case and knocking things off the counter.

Employees say they were told to leave, and they heard three gunshots being fired.

"Just to know that my friend got his life taken away over an argument," Medina said.

Arredondo told investigators he was in fear during the argument. But he also told them prior to Turgeon’s arrival that he’d already loaded a gun and hid it under a counter.

Police say they allowed Arredondo multiple chances to explain why he was in fear. 

"We learned that the victim was unarmed. There was no evidence the victim attempted to assault the suspect," White said.

Javier Arredondo (Source: Arlington Police)

Arredondo says Turgeon never made any threats, presented any weapon or made any physical contact with him, only repeating to officers he was "just in fear." 

After consulting with the Tarrant County district attorney, detectives determined, under the law, the use of deadly force was not justified. 

Yvette Lozano says Turgeon was close to her and her four kids. 

"Part of him didn’t even want to go in yesterday. He was just like I did to find out if I had a job or not," she said. "Like, I can’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it. I am still trying to process it."

After his initial interview on scene, Arredondo decided not to cooperate with investigators. 

Arredondo remains in the Tarrant County jail.