Tyron Henton, 31, faces a murder charge in the Oct. 14 shooting of Deavyn Holt, 24. Police responded shortly after 8:30 p.m. to the shopping center in the 4200 block of South Freeway near Seminary Drive after a report that a man was smashing a jewelry kiosk’s display case with a hammer.

The warrant says Holt wore a black mask, broke the glass and took a felt-lined panel holding gold necklaces before running toward an exit. Henton told police he heard glass breaking, looked up and saw Holt fleeing with a hammer. He said he thought there was a threat and fired three times inside the mall, then chased Holt outside and fired twice more.

Henton said he saw no property in Holt’s hands other than the hammer and did not think Holt had taken anything from the kiosk. The warrant says Henton could not explain what imminent threat Holt posed to him or anyone else. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed Holt did not threaten anyone with the hammer while running away, according to the warrant.

Holt collapsed outside the mall and was pronounced dead. The warrant’s account puts the guard’s stated understanding of events at the center of the investigation: although a theft had occurred, Henton told police he was unaware of it when he opened fire.