In Houston, Texas, a man involved in an armed robbery at a Dollar General store was shot by the store manager and later died after crashing his vehicle into a METRO bus, as confirmed by local law enforcement.
The sequence of events started when a deputy from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, while on his way to work, was alerted at approximately 1:16 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 about a robbery taking place at the Dollar General store. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez detailed that the suspect had placed his vehicle in front of the store and entered with an Airsoft pistol, which looked similar to an actual gun. He proceeded to force the store manager to unlock the safe at gunpoint.
After the store manager, who was armed, shot him, the suspect fled the scene, only to crash shortly afterward into a METRO bus at the corner of Ella and Airtex Boulevard. Sheriff Gonzalez suggested that the suspect was likely suffering from significant blood loss, as indicated by the state of his vehicle. The crash involved six bus occupants, including the driver, who needed hospital evaluation. The passengers chose not to seek medical attention.
While the identity of the deceased suspect remains unknown, Sheriff Gonzalez hinted at the vehicle’s possible role in a previous local incident. Current investigations are examining this potential connection.
The locale of the incident is notorious for higher crime rates. Despite this, Sheriff Gonzalez pointed out the presence of legitimate businesses and community members, clarifying that the incident does not typify the entire community. He also referenced possible grand jury proceedings for the store manager, hinting that the manager’s actions may be interpreted as self-defense during an armed robbery.