HOUSTON, TEXAS – A grand jury in Harris County, Texas, has decided not to press charges against a man who shot and killed a robber at a restaurant in Houston last year. According to a statement released by the Harris County District Attorney’s office, the grand jury chose not to file charges against the unidentified man who fatally shot 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington during an attempted robbery at El Ranchito restaurant on South Gessner on Jan. 5, 2023.
The decision was based on security video that captured the shooting incident. The grand jury’s “no bill” decision means that at least nine of the 12 Texas residents who served on the grand jury panel concluded that probable cause did not exist in the case. As a result, the unidentified man has been effectively cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.
Witnesses reported that Washington entered the restaurant wearing a mask and black clothing, appearing to have a gun, and proceeded to rob several customers. One of the customers, however, responded by shooting the robber multiple times as he passed by his booth. The security footage showed the armed customer extracting Washington’s fake gun and returning the stolen money to the individuals in the restaurant.
Following the shooting, the man’s attorney expressed confidence that a Texas grand jury would justify the shooting as self-defense, defense of others, and defense of property under state law.
Houston Police reported that no other injuries were sustained during the incident, while some individuals believed that the unidentified man should face charges for excessive use of force. Meanwhile, the owner of the restaurant regarded the armed customer as a hero for thwarting the robbery. The entire incident presents a complex and controversial situation surrounding self-defense and the use of lethal force.