HOUSTON, Texas – A grand jury has made a decision regarding a man who fatally shot an armed robber at a taco restaurant. The individual, who is from Houston, Texas, will not face charges after shooting and killing the armed robber. The incident gained attention after a video of the shooting went viral on social media in 2023.
According to Attorney Juan L. Guerra Junior, who represents the man, the grand jury declined to charge his client. Guerra explained that his client acted in self-defense, stating, “The danger at the time was real, and he acted accordingly.”
The shooting took place on January 5, almost a year before the grand jury cleared the man of any charges. Guerra stated, “12 people of Harris County concluded what all of us had concluded, that it was a justifiable homicide.”
The case garnered controversy, with community activists branding the man as a vigilante and demanding a murder charge. Guerra revealed that his client has lived in fear of retaliation.
The attorney emphasized that his client’s intention was to save lives, particularly the life of his best friend’s son, who was present during the robbery. Guerra quoted his client as saying, “Mr. Guerra, I was not going to have a conversation with my best friend about his son being murdered because I did not act.”
Surveillance video captured the armed robber, Eric Eugene Washington, holding customers at gunpoint inside the Ranchito Number 4 restaurant. When Washington turned his back, the man pulled out a gun and fired, stopping the robbery. Afterward, the shooter returned the stolen items and discovered that Washington’s gun was fake.
While the outcome was tragic, with a loss of life, Guerra expressed gratitude for the presence of surveillance cameras in the restaurant. He believed that without the footage, the case might have unfolded differently.
In summary, a Houston man who shot and killed an armed robber at a taco restaurant will not face charges, as ruled by a grand jury. The decision came almost a year after the shooting occurred. Attorney Juan L. Guerra Junior, representing the man, maintained that his client acted in self-defense. He emphasized the importance of saving lives and avoiding a conversation about a young man’s murder. The attorney also acknowledged the presence of surveillance cameras, which played a crucial role in assessing the situation.