The longtime partner of a security guard shot and killed while working at Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach is speaking publicly for the first time about his death and the heartbreak of explaining the loss to their 8-year-old daughter.

Luis Alberto Quiroz-Arreola, 31, was fatally shot around 2 a.m. Monday while working security at the popular Pacific Beach landmark. As of Thursday, San Diego police are still searching for the shooter, who fired several rounds at Arreola before fleeing the scene.

Viviana Gonzalez, Arreola’s longtime partner and the mother of his daughter, Alexia, described him as a dedicated security guard who loved his work and took pride in helping others.

“He was just doing his job. I know him. He loved his job. He took it very, very serious,” Gonzalez said.

Now, Gonzalez is facing the difficult task of helping their daughter understand why her father will never come home.

“She understands that daddy is not home,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez recalled discovering messages Alexia had sent to her father’s iPad after his death.

“I was checking her iPad and she was texting him. ‘I miss you daddy I miss your face,” she said.

Gonzalez described Arreola as a loving father and partner who worked hard to provide for his family. She said he was friendly to everyone and had a passion for helping people, which ultimately led him to a career in security.

Although Arreola enjoyed working overnight shifts, Gonzalez worried about the dangers of his job, particularly because he was unarmed.

“It was just scary, especially nighttime unarmed. Just scary,” Gonzalez said.

Partner learned of Crystal Pier shooting from news report

On the morning of the shooting, Gonzalez expected Arreola to return home by 5 a.m.

When he didn’t arrive, she saw a news report about a shooting at Crystal Pier and went to the scene, hoping to find him speaking with police.

Instead, she learned that Arreola was the shooting victim.

Employees from the nearby 710 Beach Club had rushed to help Arreola after the gunfire, but they were unable to save his life.

Despite the devastating loss, Gonzalez expressed gratitude to the people who tried to help him in his final moments.

“I am so happy somebody was there with him, helping him and he wasn’t alone and people do care,” Gonzalez said.

Police continue searching for the Crystal Pier shooter

San Diego police have released few details about the deadly shooting.

Two nearby surveillance cameras may have captured the attack. One camera is mounted on a palm tree overlooking the area, while another at Kono’s Coffee Shop is pointed in the direction of the shooting.

Witnesses who chased after the shooter said the person fled northbound, either on foot or by getting into a vehicle on Ocean Boulevard.

Authorities have not announced an arrest.

As investigators continue searching for the person responsible, Gonzalez is asking the public to help identify the killer.

For Gonzalez, the loss extends far beyond the present. She is grieving not only the death of her longtime partner but also the future moments their daughter will never get to share with her father.

“He took a very good guy. My daughter doesn’t get to walk with him down the aisle,” Gonzalez said. “Just ripped him away from us.”

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.