CAUGHT ON VIDEO: A customer at a taqueria shot and killed a robber at the restaurant on S. Gessner in southwest Houston, police said.
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) January 6, 2023
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Ariana Garcia,
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Police Department is searching for a man who was captured on surveillance video shooting and killing an armed robber at a taqueria in southwest Houston late Thursday night. In footage obtained by KHOU 11, a man wearing a black ski mask is shown entering the Ranchito Taqueria on S. Gessner near Bellaire Boulevard just before 11:30 p.m. and pointing a pistol at customers as he collected their money.
However, as he moved toward the door, one of the customers pulled out a gun and fatally shot the armed man. In a Friday news release, police said the shooter then proceeded to return the stolen money to the other customers. He and other patrons fled the scene before police arrived. No others at the restaurant were injured during the incident, police said.
It turns out that the now-deceased armed robber, who has not yet been identified, did not have a real gun, police told KHOU 11. “The robber suspect he came into the store and was wearing masks and gloves,” HPD Lt. R. Wilkens said. “He had a plastic pistol possibly an aero soft or possibly a little BB pistol.”
Investigators said the man, who has also not yet been identified, is wanted for questioning for his role in the shooting and has not been charged. Police also released surveillance photos of the customer’s 1970s or ’80s model pickup truck with no bed.
Houston police are asking the shooter and witnesses who left the scene to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 to provide statements regarding the incident. Anyone who recognizes the shooter is also being asked to contact HPD.
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