Dine and defend. Hero Texas customer cleared after shooting armed robber in local Mexican restaurant

The incident unfolded in Houston, Texas. On January 5, around 5:30 PM Eastern Time, ten people were dining at the Mexican restaurant, The Ranchito. Without warning, a masked man brandishing a gun entered the establishment, demanding that customers hand over their wallets, watches, and cellphones.

Security footage captured when frightened customers lay on the floor before complying with the thief's demands. Just as the thief was about to depart, one of the customers suddenly stood up and fired his gun at the assailant multiple times.

Both the police and an ambulance were swiftly called to the scene. Upon their arrival, the medics confirmed that the thief was dead. They also discovered that the customer who had shot the thief had already fled the scene.

Eric Eugene Washington, 30, was identified as the deceased thief, while the gun-shooting customer remains anonymous. The police arrested this individual shortly after the incident occurred, and he was held in custody, although his identity remains undisclosed. The man awaited his trial for a year and the subsequent decision regarding potential sentencing.

After lengthy deliberations, the jury concluded that the shooting customer should not face any charges. Pablo Lopez Garcia, the restaurant owner where the incident occurred, expressed his immense satisfaction with the ruling. He firmly believes that the jury made the correct decision.

"We're relieved that he wasn't charged with any crime, as he was defending his own life and the lives of others. He didn't ask to be put in this situation," Garcia commented.