Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Two people, who authorities suggested may have been involved in a robbery, were fatally shot Wednesday by a business owner, according to Houston police.
Houston police officers were called around 11:10 a.m. about a possible shooting involving two robbers in the 1700 block of South Sgt. Macario Garcia, according to a Tweet from the Police Department citing its preliminary information.
Officers arrived at the scene and found two masked men dead from gunshot wounds, Assistant Chief Chandra Hatcher said during a news conference Wednesday. After speaking with the business owner at the scene, police believe the shooting was the result of a jugging attempt, she said. Jugging is a type of crime in which a person watches a high-end business or a bank, waiting for someone to withdraw money or purchase a high-dollar item, before following them and robbing them or stealing from them.
The owner told investigators he had come back from a Houston-area bank, and before he could enter his business, he was hit in the back of the head with an unknown object, Hatcher said. When he turned around, two masked men with gloves were in front of him, so he shot them in what Hatcher described as self-defense.
“We don’t ever advocate violence or crime, but our citizens have the right to defend themselves,” the assistant chief said.
An employee of the owner also fired shots at the robbery suspects when he came out of the business and saw what was taking place, Hatcher said. When gunfire rang out, a third suspect in a black Lincoln Navigator drove off, she added.
“Please consider your actions and consider your decisions because choices have consequences,” Hatcher said. “Unfortunately, the suspects here have loved ones who will now be grieving their loss.”
It remained unclear whether the business owner or employee would face any criminal charges for the shooting as Hatcher said a grand jury will make that determination.