Retaliation possible motive in shooting

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998 | 11:34 a.m.

Metro Homicide detectives are still investigating what may have been a retaliation killing of a security guard Sunday night at the Silver Saddle Saloon.

There is still no suspect in the case.

Police say that the shooting of 24-year-old Everett Hicks could have been in retaliation for a Sept. 19 incident at the bar when security guard Claudio Piedras shot and killed Jose Morales.

Morales had been ejected from the bar that night, but returned later and accelerated his car at Piedras. Piedras reacted by firing at the car, hitting Morales in the head and killing him.

Security guards at the Silver Saddle are hired directly by the bar, and are not contracted out through private security firms, said Homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen.

Last week the bar, located at East Charleston Boulevard and Boulder Highway, received a threat that all the security guards that worked there would be killed, Petersen said.

Investigators said it appears that Hicks, who died at the scene, was shot by a sniper from over a block wall on the north side of the business parking lot. Hicks was shot in the chest by what police believe was a high-powered rifle.

Police found a shell casing from a rifle behind the wall about 100 yards from Hick's body.

Piedras was not working Sunday when Hicks was killed.

When asked if security guards at the bar were taking any special safety precautions, management said all questions must be referred to police.