'Take care of the kids, I love you': Dying father, 38, makes heartbreaking final call to his wife after being gunned down while buying milk for his baby at a Family Dollar store in Phoenix

A dying father-of-five made a heartbreaking final call to his wife, telling her he loved her and to 'look after their children', after he was shot in a store in Phoenix.

Jorge Hernandez, 38, was buying milk for his baby at a Family Dollar when a gunman opened fire into the store from the outside. 

Hernandez, described by family as an 'amazing man', was rushed to hospital after being shot in the hip as he waited in line. But he later died of his injuries, officials said.

Dying father-of-five Jorge Hernandez made a heartbreaking final call to his wife, telling her he loved her and to 'look after their children', after he was shot in a store in Phoenix

Jorge Hernandez, 38, was buying milk for his baby at a Family Dollar when a gunman opened fire into the store from the outside

His wife of ten years, Marlene Jimenez, was at work when she received the call.

'I was at work and he calls me through the phone,' she told Fox 10 Phoenix. 'He tells me that he needs me to go for the kids because he just got shot.'

'His last words to me were that I made him the happiest man these ten years, and that he wanted to me to take care of his kids for him and that he loved me so much,' she added, overcome with emotion.'

Phoenix Police department said in a statement the shooting occurred at the Family Dollar store near 83rd Avenue and Indian School Road.

Hernandez had planned to take their children Christmas shopping the day after he was shot, his wife said.

His wife of ten years, Marlene Jimenez, was at work when she received the call. Hernandez told his wife in a final phone call that he loved her and to 'look after their children'

'He loved his kids so much, so it just kills me that my kids are gonna be here without their father,' added Jimenez. 

Officers also found a woman in her 50s with a gunshot wound at the store but it was not life threatening.

Police said the suspect vehicle is a silver Sedan, and the suspect shot into the store before driving off. The investigation is ongoing.

In an emotional plea to the public, Jimenez said: 'If anybody can help us find the person that did this damage, I really do want my husband to have justice because it wasn't his time to go. He still had a lot to live for.' 

A GoFundMe page has been set up by Jimenez in tribute to her husband. She wrote: 'Jorge dedicated his life to his children and wife, he was a hard working father and husband who always did everything he could to make sure his family were good.' 

Anyone with information should leave an anonymous tip by calling Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. Spanish speakers can leave an anonymous tip by calling Testigo Silencioso at 480-TESTIGO.