Lyle Robert Kastner, aged 57, was fatally shot on July 18, 2009, in San Antonio, Texas. Kastner, a retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, was employed as a security guard by San Antonio Investigations & Security and was on duty at the I-35 Bingo Hall at the time of the incident. He was escorting a manager to her car around 10:30 p.m. when they were confronted by an armed, masked assailant who attempted to rob the woman. Kastner intervened in an attempt to protect her, which led to the attacker shooting him in the chest. Kastner was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, the assailant took Kastner's .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and fled on foot. Police also recovered a spent nine-millimeter shell casing at the scene, suggesting that the assailant used another weapon during the attack. The San Antonio Police Department called for the public's help in finding the person responsible, with Crime Stoppers offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest. Additionally, the Kastner family, along with the security company and the bingo hall’s management, collectively offered $6,900 for information that would help in apprehending the perpetrator.
Kastner was remembered by colleagues and community members as a kind and dedicated individual. He took pride in his work as a security officer and was well-liked by patrons of the bingo hall, where he often ensured their safety. His untimely death left a significant impact on his family, friends, and those who knew him through his work, with many describing him as a good person who was simply trying to do the right thing at the time of his death.
