Self-Defense or Overkill

A customer at Houston Taco shop kills a robber who was using a toy guy. Was it an act of self-defense or should he be charged with murder for killing a robber?

It was the evening on January 5, 2023, El Ranchito in Houston, Texas. A masked robber enters the restaurant at 11:30 pm with a gun in his hand. The whole scenery was captured on a surveillance camera. The video shows the robber pulling a gun at the patrons, robbing them, and robbing the register. Just when the robber was about to leave after taking their money, a 46-year-old customer pulled out his gun shooting him multiple times. After the robber is down, he gives the patrons their stolen money back and the restaurant. He checks on the robber and found his weapon turns out his gun is a toy.

The customer throws the toy gun at the wall, and he and his friend who was seen on the video watching the whole thing leaves the restaurant then the authorities arrived at the scene and find the robber dead.

The robber was identified as 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington. According to reports, his mother knew about his financial struggles and didn't believe he was going to intend to rob a store. Community activists in Houston call for justice on the robber and believe the customer should be held accountable for his action because what he did was overkill the robber.

"I'm hoping the grand jury does something because if they don't, the message that will be sent will be the wild wild west. He should be charged with something."

Quanell X, one of the Houston activists told the news outlets.

However, the customer who shot the robber who remains anonymous said that what he has done was justified and an act of self-defense. The 46-year-old's attorney sent Eyewitness News the following statement:

"My client, who wishes to remain anonymous, was dining with a friend at El Ranchito Taqueria and as it has been seen on video, a robbery suspect entered the restaurant, and pointed a weapon at my client and the other customers demanding money. In fear of his life and his friend's life, my client acted to protect everyone in the restaurant. In Texas, a shooting is justified in self-defense, defense of others and in defense of property. The customer has met with the Harris County District Attorney's Office and Investigators with HPD homicide. He fully intends to continue cooperating with the ongoing investigation. When the investigation is complete, this case will be presented to a Grand Jury. We are confident that a Grand Jury will conclude that the shooting was justified under Texas Law. This event has been very traumatic, taking a human life is something he does not take lightly and will burden him for the rest of his life. For that reason, he wishes to remain anonymous. Due to the overwhelming coverage, we ask the media and the public to respect his privacy."

And the owner of the restaurant calls the man who shot the robber "a hero" even though the robber used a "toy gun".

Personally, I don't know why the customer shot the robber numerous times and then leaves at the scene of the crime. He could have shot once and at least contacted the authorities after he shot the man plus the robber was wrong on his part for what he has done. I do believe it was self-defense but I don't understand why he had to leave.

So what do you guys think should the customer be charged for killing the robber or is he a hero and acted in self-defense?

Sources from

YouTube

Inside Edition

Chron

ABC13