A Texas customer took justice into his own hands last week when he single-handedly foiled an armed robbery attempt.
Security footage captured the dramatic moment at 11:30 Thursday night when a masked robber entered a taqueria in Houston and began demanding money and threatening patrons with what appeared to be a real handgun.
Amid this fearful mayhem, a heroic customer who had been dining with a companion pulled out his own weapon and fired multiple shots at the perpetrator.
Despite the chaos and gunfire, no one else was injured in the incident. The robber, identified as 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The robber’s weapon proved to be some sort of toy gun, a BB pistol.
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KHOU News spoke with Nathan Beedle, a legal representative at the Houston PD; and Carmen Roe, a legal analyst at KHOU, “Roe said it didn’t matter if the gun used in the robbery was fake because the threat was real.” Roe further explained that the customers believed the gun to be real and acted accordingly.
The customer, who has not been named, returned the stolen money to the other diners before he and other patrons fled the scene.
In the aftermath of the incident, Houston police homicide detectives located and questioned the 46-year-old customer and, after consulting with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, ABC News reported that the shooting will be referred to a grand jury.
The customer is not currently facing any charges and as such, his identity has not been released to the public.
Overall, it was a night of intense drama but in the end, because he was prepared, the good guy came out on top. The taqueria is now closed for repair and for cleanup of the bullet holes and bullet shells. But we’re sure that the heroic customer’s actions will be remembered for a long time.
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He was a hero up until he executed the perp, who was lying face down and unarmed.
When defending one’s own life or the lives of others, it is not “taking justice into his own hands”. It is simply defense.
I do not like this. The “hero” has customers in that corner table in his line-of-fire. Because of that, he should have let it go and not fired. Stay safe. j
Looks like the shot could have been taken while he was aming at an upward angle. With the video, I am not sure what the possible impact area looked like to the gent who was also under threat. I guess he could have slid a bit off the bench and perhaps stood up and maybe even asked the gun man to turn around so not to shoot anyone in the back. It all comes down to risk assessment, I would rather take my chances with the law abiding gent and a bit of luck then the whim of a criminal.
Dudes a hero? One less scumbag.
Upper left corner, the male patron/ diner; notice his hands are up? This episode had progressed to the point, where 2 other patrons are on the floor, appear unhurt but obviously uncomfortable [unprepared] situation.
This is NOT an instantaneous or unconsidered response by the man in dispatching the perpetrator.
(signed)
Not a shoot ’em in the leg liberal.
Good shoot until he put the last round in the head. That was not a smart thing to do. But, good on him for taking the guy down.
Outstanding use of force! The scumbag was pointing his weapon at another customer which is an immediate use of force, it does not matter if his back is facing the good Samaritan or not. if anybody wants to complain about the scumbag being shot in the back is an idiot. The new LE officers and Libs, “Could you please turn around so that I can shoot you in your front?” Yes sir the unarmed sheep are going to pay before they wake up and figure out the mess that they have created by being anti police and getting rid of governmental immunity for LE officers. Have a nice day and enjoy your high crime 🙂
The guy got what he deserved and “had it coming”. I don’t know what LE or police have to do with this incident? Honestly, there should be NO immunity for LE!! When will people understand that they are/will be enforcement for tyrants.
WTF is a “bullet shell”? And how long does it take to clean one up?
“… the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, ABC News reported that the shooting will be referred to a grand jury. ”
As I’ve said repeatedly, you have much less to fear from the criminals; they can be dealt with. But, fear the corrupt Legal system, as They will seek to victimize you even when the criminals fail.
“Show me the man and I’ll find you the crime.”
– Lavrentiy Beria, Stalin’s chief of secret police
Unfortunately since he shot him in the back he may face charges, probably only thing in his favor is its in Texas. I don’t disagree with what he did, but unloading on him as he was in retreat will not sit well with the libs
Nothing about firearms sits well with the libs, except confiscation.
At the moment he shot, the perp was aggressively pointing his gun at the guy in the corner of the restaurant. Good shoot, one less dirtbag thug.
He wasn’t in retreat. The shooter didn’t want to get shot, as the perp was Very close and had the “gun” pointed directly at him. IMO, he acted properly to protect himself and others. Of course, the HUTA anti-gun DA will try to make some sort of case to screw the guy. Hopefully, there are sensible people on the grand jury.
Having personally shot an armed subject in the back in a “good shoot” I can say from firsthand experience, defense of others does not require a front-facing target and he wasn’t “in retreat”. He posed an immediate threat to others and was actively pointing the weapon at other patrons at the moment the shooter acted. The video I saw cut out just before the shots were fired, so I cannot speak to someone else’s allegation too many rounds being fired or of a terminating head shot. Those allegations, if true, may be problematic for the shooter.
This happened in the Great State of Texas and I’d bet a $100.00 bill the GJ will rule it justifiable.
The armed responsible citizen is the best prevention we can have. Exactly how I would have responded in that particular situation. Put a gun in my direction and then try to steal my hard earned money will get you a dirt nap. Idk if your back is turned or headed for the door. Bad guys will never learn any other way.
Good shoot. One less scumbag in Houston!
You mean one less democrat. Lol