A Marine Corps veteran was eating lunch at a sandwich restaurant in Houston on Thursday when he saw two men pull up hoodies, tie on bandanas and enter a video game store.
The 28 year-old had a concealed carry permit but had left his gun in his truck.
He went to get it and waited for the criminals to emerge from the store, where they had robbed a cashier and stolen cash and video games, KPRC reports.
When the robbers exited, the veteran confronted them. He raised his gun and asked a by-stander to call 911, police said.
“At that point, the robber raised his pistol and aimed it at the 28-year-old male,” Harris County sheriff’s deputy Thomas Gilliland said, according to KPRC. “Fearing for his life, he exchanged gunfire with the robber. After several rounds were fired the robber attempted to leave in the vehicle. He was struck and killed as he was sitting inside the vehicle.”
The second robber bolted during the exchange of fire. Witnesses saw him stripping his hoodie and bandana. Several schools in the area were placed on lockdown during the search for the second suspect, though he was found captured at a local shopping outlet.
KPRC reported that the veteran was not hurt during the shooting. He was questioned by homicide detectives before leaving the scene on his own.