HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A grand jury has decided not to press charges against the man who shot and killed a robber at a southwest Houston taqueria last year.
The incident took place on January 5, 2023, at the El Ranchito taqueria on South Gessner Road. Eric Eugene Washington, 30, was shot and killed as he was robbing people inside the restaurant, according to police.
After the shooting, there was controversy over whether the shooter should face charges. Some labeled him a “vigilante,” while others hailed him as a hero.
The armed, masked man entered the restaurant and demanded money and wallets from customers before one of the customers shot him as he was leaving, Houston police said.
Surveillance video captured the incident, showing the man who shot and killed the robber collecting the stolen money and returning it to the other patrons. No one else in the restaurant was injured, and the robber’s gun turned out to be fake.
The grand jury process was explained by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, which pointed out that a grand jury is made up of 12 randomly selected residents who review all criminal charges to decide whether there is enough evidence for a case to proceed. The decision as to whether to indict rests with grand jurors, not with prosecutors.
In conclusion, the grand jury in Harris County, Texas, has decided not to pursue charges against the man who shot and killed a robber at a local taqueria last year, citing a lack of probable cause.