In a dramatic turn of events, a customer at a Houston restaurant took matters into his own hands during an armed robbery, resulting in the suspect being fatally shot. The incident occurred when a masked robber brandishing what appeared to be a pistol demanded money from the patrons inside the establishment.

Surveillance footage captures the tense moments as the suspect orders the customers to surrender their money. Among them, a man in a gray T-shirt complies by throwing some bills on the floor. As two other customers cower under a table, the man in the T-shirt bides his time, waiting for the right moment to act.

As the robber walks past him, the customer leaps up and opens fire with his own gun, fatally wounding the suspect. After ensuring the threat is neutralized, he instructs the victims to retrieve their cash. It is only then that a startling revelation is made—the robber’s weapon was a BB gun, not a real firearm.

Following the shooting, the customer is seen leaving the scene in a pickup truck before the police arrive. Authorities later released a photo of the man, requesting that he come forward for questioning. His lawyer has since reached out to the district attorney’s office, expressing his client’s willingness to discuss the incident.

The key issue now is whether the customer could face charges for the shooting. Thomas Nixon, a Houston lawyer and former police officer, weighs in on the matter, stating that the customer is unlikely to face charges. “He was the victim of an aggravated robbery in progress,” Nixon explains. “He was put in apprehension of serious bodily injury or death, and in Texas, you can defend yourself with lethal force in such circumstances.”

The fact that the robber’s gun was a BB gun does not change the legality of the customer’s actions. “If you put someone in apprehension of serious bodily injury or death, it doesn’t matter whether the weapon is real or not,” Nixon says. “The perception of imminent danger is enough to justify self-defense.”

As the investigation continues, the dramatic incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of armed confrontations and the legal complexities that can follow.