Customer fatally shoots robber after robbing Houston restaurant with fake gun

A customer fatally shot a robber in the head after he ambushed a Texas restaurant with a fake gun – and police are now searching for the vigilante who helped get the stolen money back to diners.

The robber, who is believed to be in his 20s, wearing a black ski mask and gloves, entered the Ranchito #4 Taqueria in southwest Houston Thursday night before mugging 10 customers and demanding their money at gunpoint.

Footage shows the screaming man waving what is believed to be a pistol around the restaurant while customers fall to the ground and hand over their belongings.

But as the man approached the door, one of the patrons – described by police as either white or Hispanic – pulled out his own gun and shot the robber dead.

He fired nine times – one in the head – and dropped it on the ground. The customer, wearing a gray t-shirt and jeans, then collected the stolen money and cellphones and began returning them to the people from whom they were taken.

Police have not filed any charges and only want to speak to the customer in the clip.

The customer shot the robber seen in the red ring after he entered Ranchito #4 Taqueria and demanded people’s money and cell phones at gunpoint. Police believe the masked robber actually used a fake gun

Police now want to speak to this customer, who was described by officers as either white or Hispanic, who stood up and shot the robber as he was exiting the Houston restaurant

The “gunman,” who entered the store brandishing his pistol and screaming, took money and cell phones from customers before a customer got up and shot him

Pedro Lopez, owner of the taqueria, said he and his staff are still in shock but he is glad his staff and customers were unharmed in the shooting

He then fled the scene in a dusty pickup truck around 11:30 p.m. on January 5 along with the other customers at the Taqueria on South Gessner Road.

Investigators say they want to locate the man pictured for his role in the shooting – and no charges have yet been filed.

The robber’s identity has not yet been released – but police believe the gun he was brandishing around the restaurant may have been a plastic BB gun.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeants M. Arrington, C. Duncan and Detectives S. Overstreet and L. Lovelace said in a report: “Officers were dispatched to a shooting at the restaurant at the above address and observed an unidentified black man in full black clothes, a black ski mask and black gloves had been shot multiple times in the shop.

“Paramedics pronounced him dead. Witnesses told officers the suspect entered the restaurant and pointed a pistol at diners as he demanded their money.

“When the suspect was collecting money from patrons, one of the patrons, described as a white or Hispanic male, pulled out a gun of his own and shot the suspect multiple times.

“The gunman collected the stolen money from the suspect and returned the money to other well-wishers. He and other patrons (victims) then fled the scene.”

Pedro Lopez, owner of the taqueria, said he and his staff are still in shock.

He told ABC13: “Everyone was scared, nervous. I was too. Some customers sat here, others over there, he went the money and wanted to go

“You never really know what’s going to happen.”

Police have also released an image of the vehicle in which the man who killed the robber fled the scene.

It is a 1970’s or 80’s pick-up model without a flatbed in a rusty red colour. Cops hope this will lead them to the man they want to talk to.

Texas has some of the most permissive gun laws in the US. Most locations in the state allow residents and foreigners over the age of 21 to carry a handgun—either openly or concealed.

This does not apply to people who already have a criminal record.

As of September 2021, Texans no longer require a license to carry a handgun in the state.

Former Houston police officer-turned-attorney Thomas Nixon said: “The person he shot was in the process of committing a robbery and consequently his use of force in his own defense and in the defense of innocent third parties in Texas is fully justified .

“He was reasonably afraid of serious bodily harm or death.”

The man’s vehicle is a 1970’s or 80’s pick-up model with no flatbed and a rusty red color. Cops hope this will lead them to the man they want to talk to.

The “shooter” goes to the door – before he himself is shot by a customer

The fatal shooting occurred at Ranchito #4 Taqueria in southwest Houston, Texas

The police did not provide any information on the identity of the deceased robber

Police arrived at the scene on January 5 after the deadly shooting