Texas restaurant customer fatally shoots masked robber who took cash from victims at tables — and then he grabs stolen money, gives it back to victims

 A Texas restaurant customer was caught on surveillance video fatally shooting a masked robber who took cash from victims at tables late Thursday night — and police said that same customer grabbed the stolen money from the crook and returned it to the victims.

What are the details?

Houston police told KHOU-TV an armed man in a mask entered Ranchito Taqueria on South Gessner near Bellaire Boulevard just before 11:30 p.m. and demanded money and wallets from customers.

Surveillance video shows the crook going from table to table and taking cash; amid the robbery, two customers tried to take cover underneath a table:

Image source: YouTube screenshot

But seconds later, one of the customers sitting to the side drew a gun and fired at the robber who was walking past him.

KHOU said in its broadcast that it froze the surveillance video before shots were fired but that the full video shows the robber being shot multiple times. 

Here's the surveillance video:

Raw video: Customer at taqueria shoots robber as he was leavingyoutu.be

Customer who shot robber returned stolen money

What's more, police told the station that the customer who shot the robber grabbed the stolen money back from the robber and returned it to the other customers.

Those inside the restaurant departed before police arrived, KHOU said, adding that there were no reported injuries among customers or restaurant staff. 

Workers at the restaurant were shaken up about the incident, the station said, adding that the restaurant said it planned to reopen around 7 a.m. Friday.

Police want to question customer who pulled trigger

Houston police told KHOU that the customer who shot the robber is wanted for questioning, although he hasn't been identified and is not charged. Police also released surveillance images of him:

Nearly all the commenters who weighed in on the above tweet from police so far are siding with the customer who shot the robber, saying he did the right thing and shouldn't get in trouble:

  • "If they find the hero, they will treat him as a criminal and charge him," one commenter said. "No concealed carry permit, probably, fleeing the scene, and on and on. Hope they don’t find him."
  • "That man is a hero," another commenter declared. "We need more like him so there are less of the soulless thieves that think they can bully other, weaker people."
  • "When is the medal ceremony for this gentleman?" another commenter wondered.
  • "Should buy the guy a new truck. He deserves it!" another commenter exclaimed.
  • "Maybe he feared for his life," another commenter reasoned. "No way to tell if the robber's gun was real or not the way he went into the establishment."
  • "Old man aired out a low-life criminal, defended property and person, and potentially saved lives," another commenter said. "Kudos! Drop the charges when y’all find him."
  • "Only if you want to put him on the payroll and give him a medal," another commenter said. "That’s the only reason to bring him in."
  • "Wanted for questioning??? C'mon he did what y’all don’t do," another commenter stated.

Anything else?

Investigators added to the station that the robber didn't have a real gun — it was, instead, a plastic pistol.

Police are asking the customer who shot the robber and the other customers who left the scene to contact the police department's Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 to provide statements, KHOU said.

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