Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Grand jury will decide fate of 'hero' customer who shot and killed robber at taqueria, HPD

https://abc13.com/houston-taqueria-shooting-customer-shoots-robber-eric-eugene-washington-killed-suspect-death/12681554/?ex_cid=TA_KTRK_FB&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0XefKfs0zsUrjDEEjz_FbbG_u_dWBMw6sVGd0jbgRY-n1j7cii2kyZXRA

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A grand jury will decide whether an armed taqueria customer, who shot and killed a robber last week in southwest Houston and is now being hailed a hero, will be criminally charged.

Investigators said the 46-year-old customer, who police have not identified because he's not under arrest, turned himself in and is cooperating with detectives.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Houston robbery shooting: Customer shoots, kills robber armed with plastic pistol, police say

The 46-year-old's attorney sent Eyewitness News the following statement:

"My client, who wishes to remain anonymous, was dining with a friend at El Ranchito Taqueria and as it has been seen on video, a robbery suspect entered the restaurant, and pointed a weapon at my client and the other customers demanding money. In fear of his life and his friend's life my client acted to protect everyone in the restaurant.

In Texas, a shooting is justified in self-defense, defense of others and in defense of property. The customer has met with the Harris County District Attorney's Office and Investigators with HPD homicide. He fully intends to continue cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

When the investigation is complete, this case will be presented to a Grand Jury. We are confident that a Grand Jury will conclude that the shooting was justified under Texas Law. This event has been very traumatic, taking a human life is something he does not take lightly and will burden him for the rest of his life. For that reason, he wishes to remain anonymous. Due to the overwhelming coverage, we ask the media and the public to respect his privacy."

University of Houston Law Center Professor Sandra Guerra Thompson said even if he is indicted, a jury likely would not convict.

"When a person uses force during an armed robbery, they have very heightened protection under the law," Thompson explained. "I know that there are a lot of questions about the use of a gun because it wasn't a real firearm, but that really doesn't make a difference because it was used as a firearm and a person would reasonably believe that they were facing an immediate threat of deadly force."

The suspect can be seen on video taking control of the taqueria and pointing what looks like a gun at customers.

Suddenly, one customer starts shooting, even moving closer to the suspect as he keeps firing shots.

He puts what looks like the customers' stolen money back on the table, then appears to realize the suspect's gun wasn't real.

The customers, including the shooter, left, leaving the owner and the workers in the shop.

On Monday, the medical examiner identified 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington as the robbery suspect who was killed.

Records show Washington had an extensive criminal history and was out on bond during the would-be robbery.

Records show that in 2015, Washington was convicted on a lesser charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection to the shooting death of 62-year-old Hamid Waraich, a cell phone store owner. Houston police also charged two other men.

According to records, Washington was released on parole in 2021 and charged with assaulting his girlfriend in December 2022.

Waraich had a fiancée and three sons who reacted strongly when contacted by ABC13.

"If the guy who stopped Eric was around 10 years ago, maybe I'd still have my dad," Aman Waraich, the son of the store clerk that was killed, said.

"Eric was an evil criminal that took joy in harassing and robbing innocent families. The individual at the taqueria is a true hero!" Sean Waraich, the victim's other son, added. "He did the right thing in stopping the robber and in protecting the community from a dangerous perpetrator."
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Sound like a clean shoot.

Here we go

I hope he has a good lawyer.

I hope he is cleared, he done good, happy ending!

Ditto... I think he walks..

Some weenie will piss and moan about the coup de grace shot.

He didn't help himself by leaving the scene. But other than that he should be good to go, IMO.

No commenting on the law itself but for me - I'd return an innocent/no bill/no charges if asked.

The only person who should be on trial is whoever let the robber out early after he had already been involved in the murder of a store owner.....

Sentenced to 15 years for robbery and connected to a murder and out on parole in 6 years.

Seems to me the pukes family should sue the parole board for being complicit in armed robbery and his demise.

He was on probation and couldn't legally carry a firearm so he had the bright idea of robbery with a fake one.

Where is Deflave to explain this when we need him?
.

Fool took a BB gun to a gunfight, stupider than taking a knife. Wins the Darwin Award for his stupidity, also won the room temperature challenge.

Spot on.

The only video I saw stopped right before he shot the bad guy. In that video it looked like the bad guy's back was mostly towards the good guy. While the good guy might have been justified when the bad guy walked in and started waving his toy around, I have hesitation that the jury will see this as self defense when the bad guy is on his way out the place and with his back towards the shooter.

All in, one less perp. on the streets. That's good and I hope the jury sees it that way.

I see it as it is, another DA that puts a Ne-groid before a Mexican though the shooter is white.

They just don’t care if N-Word terrorize hispanic establishments

Not sure how to post videos but here is link to full video,

I dont have an issue with it, but the video seems to show that after the robber was down and the shooter grabbed his gun, that he put one more round into the robbers head. Thinking that may be problematic for him.



https://twitter.com/NuanceBro/status/1611808197316075521?s=20&t=tblrZkxReZk4rbRyZxiH2Q

Why did the scumbag survive the first arrest a few years ago?

Judging by what his lawyer said, up there ^^ where Roger posted, I'd guess the lawyer is at least competent if not "good"


"Texas" perhaps being the most important word in that sentence. It might not fly in some other jurisdictions, but it did happen in TX.

Now, will the dead guy's family bring a case in Fed court that the shooter violated the dead guy's civil rights?????

As the DA once said, "I can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich."

Almost like something you would see in the movie Pulp Fiction complete with Ezekiel 25:17