04-07-2025
TikTok star 'murdered Marine' before dancing in videos to footage from the news
Joshua Guzman and Marko Cinan have been accused of shooting 'devoted father' and 'beloved fiancee' Anthony Sanders at a mall in Houston, Texas, in front of his son and partner
A TikToker accused of murdering a Marine veteran in a parking garage allegedly posted a video of himself to the social media dancing to rap music as coverage of the incident played in the background.
Joshua Guzman, 22, is one of two men who have been charged with the murder of Anthony Sanders, a 30-year-old Marine veteran who was shot to death in front of his fiancee and their toddler son in the garage of the Galleria Mall in Houston, Texas. Charges were levelled against Guzman and 23-year-old Marko Cinan after the former's mother passed police a TikTok video allegedly showing him dancing to news coverage of the incident while lip-syncing to rap songs.
In one of several videos created by Guzman, who boasts 50,000 followers on TikTok, the 22-year-old can allegedly be seen lip syncing along Cinan to the song "Graffiti" by rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
The song includes the lyrics: "I got locked in that cell and they ain't let me out." Guzman reportedly turned himself in to police on June 30, days after Cinan was charged on June 25, with his attorney, Romy Kaplan, telling local media he claimed to have been approached with a knife, arguing the case was one of "self-defence".
Mr Kaplan: "Somebody approached him not once, but twice, with a knife, but also possibly a gun." He added: "We cooperated with HPD.
"We met with HPD already for voluntary surrender, so everything that's been done has been forthright and honest, and I look forward to vigorously defending his rights."
But Ronyel Sanders, Mr Sanders' mother, claimed to have been on a phone call with her son when he was shot, telling local NBC News affiliate station KRPC that he was "protecting his son and his fiancée" at the time.
A GoFundMe page set up in the wake of Mr Sanders' death describes the man as a "devoted father" and "beloved fiancee". A statement posted to the site reads: "Anthony Sanders was abruptly taken away from us, leaving behind shattered hearts and unfinished dreams due to the senseless act of murder."
"Anthony was a devoted father, beloved fiancé to Selena, cherished son, nephew, cousin, and brother whose kindness warmed every heart around him.
"His greatest joy was his precious baby boy and his beautiful fiancée, Selena—the family he passionately worked to support. In the wake of this profound loss, Anthony's grieving mother humbly invites anyone who wishes to support the family to donate, especially for Selena, whose care and well-being are now a priority."
