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https://www.foxnews.com/us/houston-grand-jury-declines-to-charge-man-who-shot-and-killed-robber-inside-taqueria

Houston grand jury declines to charge man who shot and killed robber
inside taqueria
Some had called for the man to be charged with a crime while others
hailed him as a hero
By Andrew Mark Miller Fox News
Published January 3, 2024 6:17pm EST

Houston robbery suspect shot to death by customer in taqueria
Customers were eating at a Ranchito Taqueria in Houston on Thursday when
the suspect came in wearing a black ski mask and gloves and demanded
money from the patrons. He was later shot to death by an armed customer.
Source: Ranchito Taqueria

A grand jury in Texas has decided not to charge a man who shot and
killed a robber inside a Houston taqueria last year.

A grand jury decided on Wednesday that it will not charge a man who shot
and killed 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington, according to a press
release from the Harris County District Attorney's Office, after
Washington entered the El Ranchito taqueria in January 2023 while
flashing what appeared to be a gun and robbing the residents inside in
an incident that was captured on video.

"Grand jurors ‘no billed’ the shooter," the press release stated.

HOUSTON ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT SHOT DEAD BY ARMED CUSTOMER, POLICE
LOOKING TO QUESTION SHOOTER

Security video from taqueria
An armed diner shot and killed a suspected robber inside a Houston
restaurant last January Despite being hailed a hero, some activists
believe he should face charges for his actions. (Ranchito Taqueria)

"Harris County grand juries are composed of 12 randomly selected
residents who meet regularly for a period of three months to review all
criminal charges to decide whether there is enough evidence for a case
to proceed," the press release explained.

"If nine or more grand jurors agree that probable cause exists, they
issue a "true bill," or indictment, and the case continues on through
the criminal justice system. If nine or more grand jurors determine
probable cause does not exist, they may issue a ‘no bill,’ effectively
clearing the individual of criminal wrongdoing. The final decision as to
whether to indict rests with grand jurors, not with prosecutors."

The armed customer, described by Houston police as a White or Hispanic
male, fired at least nine shots from behind at the suspect who dropped
to the ground and died.

Police later determined that the gun was a fake plastic pistol and asked
for the public’s help locating the man before the case was eventually
sent to a grand jury by Houston's progressive George Soros-backed
prosecutor Kim Ogg.

The security video went viral on social media, and activists quickly
called for the man, who has not been identified by authorities, to be
pursued for criminal charges in what they called an act of vigilantism.

Others argued that the man’s actions were a legitimate form of
self-defense and that he had reasonable cause to believe his life was in
danger.

"As long as the individual, this armed Samaritan, believes that the
firearm was real or could have been real, that's what is important, not
the actual nature of it," Houston criminal defense attorney Sean Buckley
told Fox News Digital last year.

MOTHER OF HOUSTON TAQUERIA ROBBERY SUSPECT KILLED BY CUSTOMER SAYS SON
PROMISED TO DO BETTER

Ranchito Taqueria #4 in southwest Houston
Ranchito Taqueria #4 in southwest Houston (Google Earth)

"A person is justified in using force against another person when and to
the degree he or she reasonably believes force is immediately necessary
to protect him against the other person's use of force."

Washington's mother, Corine Goodman, said the shooter should have
stopped firing as soon as there was no longer a threat.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Downtown Houston, Texas, is seen behind railroad tracks
Downtown Houston is seen behind railroad tracks ((Photo by Brandon
Bell/Getty Images))

"If you had to kill him, I can deal with that. I can come to grips with
that. He did something wrong, I understand that," she said. "But for him
to be shot four times in the back leaving and when he falls down and he
shoots him four more times. He abused him."

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report

Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter
@andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.

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conservative100
18 hours ago

Thank goodness. I hope a turn back to common sense on this kind of stuff
is coming. Some of the decisions in similar cases lately have signaled a
return to the use of force as a justified measure for citizens.

646

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lvnvj
14 hours ago

Keep in mind this was Texas, in Cali he probably would have been charges
with manslaughter.

169

16 replies
legshotjoe
17 hours ago

only in red states

167

8 replies

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CaptainChillax
19 hours ago

The decision by a Houston grand jury to not charge the diner who shot a
robber at a taqueria is a clear affirmation of Texans' right to
self-defense. When faced with a perceived lethal threat, the citizen
acted within the bounds of the law to protect himself and others. This
case is a testament to ...

780

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danieljw
14 hours ago

In the past I wondered why so many shots but I'm gradually understanding
that in the intensity of the moment, especially if someone believes the
other is armed and dangerous, it isn't unusual.

104

17 replies
Neighborhoodwatch303
18 hours ago

not just Texans rights. U.S. citizens rights

224

4 replies

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thulsadoom
17 hours ago

Washington's mother, Corine Goodman, said the shooter should have
stopped firing as soon as there was no longer a threat.

Police officers are trained to shoot to "stop the action". The action
stops when a perp is no longer moving. Only then is the perp no longer
a threat. If Ms. Goodman is upset, it should be with herself for
raising a son who would ever commit armed robbery.

501

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USAFirst!!!!
16 hours ago

Reminds me of a news story about a guy on a stoop in NYC I think.
Several police had him surrounded and he made a move like he was going
for a gun. The officers fired a total of around 90 shots in 10-15
seconds. You fire until the threat is absolutely neutralized. Worst part
of that story was they only hit the guy like 12 times. Talk about
needing some mandatory range time.

100

8 replies
leftist-tears-of-sadness
16 hours ago

I’m glad for the four additional rounds in his back when he was down.
Hope he felt all 4 before he died

108

3 replies

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getnsickofit
18 hours ago

Mr Washington chose to commit armed robbery. He was pointing a weapon at
every patron he robbed. The customer chose his best opportunity to
eliminate the threat while his back was turned and couldn’t return fire.
There is no way of knowing whether the robber was/was not wearing body
armor, had a real gun or not, or whether he intended to shoot anyone.
Whether it was 1 shot or nine, he felt the need to ensure he was no
longer a threat. Vigilantism? Don’t think so. That would have implied
there was an escape or pursuit of the robber beyond the scene of the
crime to administer punishment or leave doubt. All doubt was removed. He
never left the scene, thanks to this man.

214

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slippin'jimmy
6 hours ago

He should get 1 free cheese steak sandwich a week for life . . .

4 replies
davisjackson
17 hours ago

1) Who says he was leaving when he was shot? He was walking toward the
door, but I often walk toward my door without leaving.

2) Who says he was no longer a threat after the initial shot? Had he
survived he may well have rolled over and capped the innocent.
The threat was removed ...

Share
grumpy10364
9 hours ago

Police often shoot a person holding fake guns fearing for their lives,
why not a civilian.

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joe__88
18 hours ago

When you threaten people's lives for money you put a price on your own
life. The dinner had every reason to believe that criminal posed an
immediate threat to his life and everyone else in the area. It is always
a good idea to keep shooting until you can guarantee that threat is
truly stopped. Ther...

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6 May, 2024: The networking issue during the past two days has been identified and fixed.

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