A grand jury in Texas has “no-billed” a good guy with a gun after he killed a man last year who was robbing customers at the El Ranchito taqueria in Houston.
The man described as a “vigilante” by much of the media will not be hit with criminal charges after shooting 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington nine times — including a shot to the head execution-style after Washington had collapsed.
The shooter said he was “protecting everyone” in the restaurant when he opened fire on Jan. 5, 2023. Turns out, Washington was flashing a very real-looking plastic gun, but there was no way to know at the time that the gun was harmless.
A surveillance camera captured the entire incident and Washington is seen demanding money from about 10 diners. One of the customers was armed and when Washington passed by him for a second time, he pulled his firearm and opened fire.
Caution: Disturbing Content
Yep
Texas, y’all
Remember this incident?
“Grand jury declines to file charges against man who killed robber at SW Houston taqueria” pic.twitter.com/rn25uhcWZd
— Salty Texan (@texan_maga) January 4, 2024
The armed patron left the scene before officers arrived, but would meet with detectives later to discuss the incident.
The man wished to remain anonymous, but his attorney said he was within his right under Texas’ self-defense laws.
“In Texas, a shooting is justified in self-defense, defense of others and in defense of property,” attorney Juan L. Guerra Jr. said.
“In fear for his life and his friend’s life, my client acted to protect everyone in the restaurant,” Guerra said. “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.”
Washington was on bond at the time of the robbery for domestic violence after attacking his girlfriend, according to the Daily Mail. He was a convicted felon with a long arrest record and served six years in jail for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.
His mother, Corine Goodman, accused the shooter of abusing her criminal son.
“If you had to kill him, I can deal with that. I can come to grips with that. He did something wrong, I understand that,” she said at the time. “But for him to be shot four times in the back leaving and when he falls down and he shoots him four more times. He abused him.”
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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