Armed Restaurant Robbery Suspect Shot Dead by Customer

Summary

A dramatic robbery unfolded at a Houston restaurant when a masked robber brandishing a pistol threatened patrons. As the situation escalated, a customer in a gray t-shirt took action, opening fire on the robber with his own gun. Afterward, it was revealed that the robber’s weapon was a BB gun. The customer fled the scene, and police are now seeking to question him. While the incident raises questions about self-defense, a lawyer explains that the customer is unlikely to face charges due to Texas' laws on defending against aggravated robbery with lethal force.

Takeaways

• 😀 A restaurant customer in Houston shot and killed an armed robber during a robbery.
• 😀 The robber was masked and brandishing a pistol, demanding money from customers inside the restaurant.
• 😀 One customer, wearing a gray t-shirt, threw some cash on the floor but then acted when the robber walked by.
• 😀 The customer in the gray t-shirt opened fire on the robber after a brief confrontation.
• 😀 After the shooting, the customer allowed the other victims to retrieve their cash.
• 😀 It was later revealed that the robber's weapon was actually a BB gun, not a real firearm.
• 😀 The customer fled the scene in a pickup truck before the police arrived.
• 😀 Houston police issued a photo of the customer they want to question regarding the incident.
• 😀 The customer’s lawyer contacted the DA’s office to offer his client’s willingness to discuss the incident.
• 😀 The key legal question is whether the customer could face charges or if the shooting was considered self-defense.
• 😀 Texas law permits lethal force in situations where someone is put in fear of serious bodily harm or death during an aggravated robbery.

Q & A

What was the initial action taken by the robber in the restaurant?

The robber entered the restaurant, brandished a pistol, and ordered the patrons to hand over their money.

How did the customer in the gray t-shirt initially respond to the robbery?

The customer in the gray t-shirt threw some bills on the floor and complied with the robber's demands.

What prompted the customer in the gray t-shirt to take action against the robber?

The customer took action when the robber walked past him, at which point he leapt up and shot the robber.

What did the customer say to the other victims after shooting the robber?

The customer told the other victims, 'Your money, your money,' indicating they could retrieve their cash.

What did police discover about the robber's weapon?

The police discovered that the robber was carrying a BB gun, not a real firearm.

What did the customer do after the incident?

The customer fled the scene in a pickup truck before police arrived.

What did the lawyer of the customer say regarding the situation?

The lawyer reached out to the DA's office, stating that his client wanted to talk about what happened.

Could the customer face charges for the shooting?

According to legal expert Thomas Nixon, the customer is unlikely to face charges, as he was a victim of an aggravated robbery and acted in self-defense.

Would the fact that the robber's gun was a BB gun change the situation legally?

No, the fact that the gun was a BB gun does not affect the legality of the customer's actions because the threat of serious bodily injury or death justifies the use of lethal force.

What is the key legal principle involved in this case?

The key legal principle is Texas' self-defense law, which allows a person to use lethal force if they are in fear of serious bodily injury or death during an aggravated robbery, regardless of whether the weapon is real.