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Armed robber killed in restaurant after being shot by customer
Featured Image Credit: @rawsalerts/ Twitter

Armed robber killed in restaurant after being shot by customer

A restaurant customer has fatally shot an armed robber who demanded wallets and money from diners.

An armed robber at a restaurant in the US was fatally shot dead by a customer after he demanded money from other diners.

The incident happened at the Ranchito Taqueria restaurant in Houston, Texas, at 11:30pm local time on Thursday (5 January).

Disturbing footage of the shooting is circulating on social media, which shows the armed robber walk in dressed all in black and a mask covering his face.

Houston Police Department say the man pointed a gun at the customers and demanded their money - something evident in the CCTV footage.

The footage shows terrified customers hiding under the table, while the robber marched around and took their belongings.

The armed robber demanded wallets and money, according to the police.
@rawsalerts/ Twitter

But as the robber took what he wanted and headed towards the exit, a customer sitting in a booth stood and opened fire on the armed robber.

The CCTV footage shows the customer shoot the robber four times in the back until he collapses onto the floor.

While he is on the ground, the customer walks over to the armed robber and shoots him four more times.

He then leans in at the armed robber at point blank range and shoots him one more time.

Police say the customer then collected the stolen money from the armed robber and returned them to the rightful owners, before they all fled the scene.

Authorities added that the armed robber, identified as a man and believed to be in his 20s, was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

In a press release, Houston Police said they are looking to talk to the customer who fatally shot the armed robber.

The customer shot the armed robber multiple times.
@rawsalerts/ Twitter

They said: "Surveillance photos of the male and his vehicle, a 1970s or '80s model pickup truck with no bed, are attached to this news release.

"Investigators want to speak with the man for his role in the shooting. No charges have been filed.

"Investigators are asking the shooter and the victims who left the scene to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 to provide statements regarding the incident."

While the man seemingly acted in self-defense, KHOU's legal analyst Carmen Rae, said: "One of the reasons that law enforcement is seeking out this individual is to find out whether he was in fear for his life or the lives of the people around him because that’s absolutely essential to a self-defense claim under the law.

"If you’re justified in shooting the first bullet, you’re justified in continuing to shoot until the deadly threat is no longer there."

Topics: Crime, US News