Investigators say suspects stole about $15,000 and later identified the guard as the inside contact.
SAN ANTONIO, TX— A security guard hired to protect a northwest-side San Antonio game room is accused of helping set up an armed robbery there early Fri., Feb. 20, after investigators said suspects used the guard as an inside contact to take cash at gunpoint.
Authorities say the case has drawn attention because the suspect worked security at the business and was supposed to prevent robberies, not enable them. Court records described by investigators indicate multiple suspects were arrested after interviews and a review of surveillance video. Police have not publicly answered every question about how the robbery was planned, but they said the investigation turned quickly toward the guard after suspects began talking and details in an arrest affidavit pointed to coordination.
According to investigators’ summary of the incident, masked gunmen entered the game room during the early morning hours and confronted people inside while searching for money. Police said the crew got away with about $15,000 before leaving the area. The security guard, identified by investigators as Riondo Lozell Murphy, 32, is accused of helping plan the robbery, based on statements police said they obtained during questioning and information written into an arrest affidavit. Officials did not immediately release the name of the game room or a precise address in the initial reports.
Police said surveillance video showed at least two masked men going inside the business while customers and workers were present. Investigators said the robbery unfolded fast, with suspects moving through the room and demanding cash. In interviews later described in court paperwork, police said two suspects told investigators that Murphy had been in contact with them and helped set the plan in motion. Investigators said the suspects later identified Murphy when officers showed them a photograph, and police described the case as an “inside job” based on that identification and what detectives said the suspects told them. “They got away with about $15,000,” a police spokesperson said in a broadcast account of the case, describing the total investigators believe was taken.
Authorities have not released every detail of what they believe Murphy did before or during the robbery, but the central allegation is that the guard used his position to help others get access and locate money. Investigators said the suspects’ statements, along with video and other evidence, were used to support arrests. Police said four people were arrested in connection with the case. It was not immediately clear whether all four were accused of entering the business or whether some were accused of planning or assisting from outside. Police also did not immediately say how the suspects divided the money, what kind of firearms were used, or whether any shots struck anyone during the robbery. Investigators said at least one gun was involved and that victims were threatened during the incident.
Game rooms like the one targeted in this robbery have been frequent scenes of theft and violence across Texas, and law enforcement agencies have long said the businesses can draw criminals because of late-night hours and the perception that cash is kept on site. In San Antonio, police have investigated a series of robberies tied to similar businesses in recent years, including cases in which armed suspects targeted employees, customers, and security personnel. Officials have also said that when a business relies on an armed guard, the guard’s access and knowledge of routines can become a vulnerability if that person is compromised or working with criminals. In this case, investigators said the guard’s alleged role is what separates the incident from a typical hold-up.
The arrests are expected to move through the Bexar County criminal court system, with prosecutors reviewing the affidavit and any additional evidence detectives submit. Police have not announced a trial date or a final list of charges for every defendant, but the allegations described by investigators fit common felony counts in armed robbery cases, including aggravated robbery and conspiracy-related charges when authorities believe a plan was coordinated among multiple people. Court records in cases like this often determine whether suspects remain jailed or are released on bond, and whether prosecutors pursue enhancements tied to the use of a firearm. Police said the investigation was active and that detectives were still reviewing video and witness statements as they worked to confirm the timeline and each suspect’s role.
For people who were inside the game room, the robbery was described as a frightening disruption that left workers and customers shaken. Investigators said victims were held at gunpoint while suspects searched for cash, and police described the suspects as masked. Authorities have not publicly released the names of victims. Police and court records have also not described whether anyone was physically injured, though investigators said the robbery involved threats with a gun. In a brief account of the case, officials emphasized that suspects were arrested after detectives followed leads from interviews and evidence, and they said the case remained under review as prosecutors considered next steps.
Murphy remained the focus of the investigation as of Mon., Feb. 23, with police describing him as the security guard accused of helping orchestrate the crime. Investigators said additional information could be filed in court as detectives complete follow-up interviews and review remaining surveillance footage. A next milestone in the case is expected to come in early court settings, where charges, bond decisions, and future hearing dates are typically confirmed.
Author note: Last updated February 23, 2026.