A Texas grand jury will determine whether or not to file criminal charges against a patron who last week shot and killed a robber in a Houston taco stand.
Eric Eugene Washington, 30, was shot nine times by a vigilante diner who was allegedly “protecting everyone” at the Texas restaurant. One of the shots struck him execution-style in the head. He later died as a result.
It is now known that Washington already had a long criminal history. He had previously served six years in prison for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and was already out on bond for assaulting his girlfriend during the ambush.
After using his pistol to stop a would-be robber who walked into the neighbourhood restaurant, displayed a fake gun at patrons, and demanded money, the customer at Ranchito 4 Taqueria has been hailed a hero.
The 46-year-old client has not yet been recognised because he is not in custody. He is thought to be Hispanic and left the area in a dusty pickup truck. Authorities say he is assisting investigators, and they will now decide whether to press charges against him.
The client was “traumatised” and “frightened for his life” during the incident, according to his attorney. He can be seen on the video recording shooting as the thief appears to be moving towards the door.
He continued by saying that the guilt of killing someone “will weigh him down for the rest of his life,” but he nevertheless fired the shot to “protect everyone in the restaurant.”
When Washington entered the restaurant while wearing a black ski mask and gloves and began to attack and rob the patrons, there were about ten people there eating.
Many fled to the ground and surrendered their belongings out of fear of Washington, who it was subsequently discovered was teasing the taco eatery with an imitation gun.
Records now show Washington’s lengthy criminal history, which includes a current misdemeanour accusation of domestic assault against his fiancée from December 2022.
In accordance with court records, Washington served 15 years in prison for an aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon conviction; he was released on parole in 2021.
In 2015, Washington was found guilty of murdering 52-year-old Hamid Waraich, the proprietor of a Boost Mobile cell phone store who was shot dead in the rear during a robbery. In 2021, after serving six years, he was granted release.
Waraich had kids and a fiancée when he passed away. Sean Waraich, a son of the victim, referred to the murdered robber as “an horrible thug who took glee in tormenting and robbing innocent families.”
He praised the taqueria vigilante as a “genuine hero” and added that by preventing the thief and defending the neighbourhood from a dangerous offender, the vigilante “did the right thing.”
Another son of Hamid, Aman Waraich, stated: “If the person who stopped Eric was here ten years earlier, maybe I’d still have my dad.”
The vigilante’s lawyer stated, “As it has been seen on film, a robbery suspect entered the restaurant and pointed a handgun at my client and the other patrons, demanding money. My client, who wishes to remain anonymous, was dining with a friend at El Ranchito Taqueria.
‘In fear of his life and his friend’s life my client acted to protect everyone in the restaurant.
‘In Texas, a shooting is justified in self-defense, defense of others and in defense of property. The customer has met with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and Investigators with HPD homicide. He fully intends to continue cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
‘When the investigation is complete, this case will be presented to a Grand Jury. We are confident that a Grand Jury will conclude that the shooting was justified under Texas Law.
He does not take the taking of a human life lightly, and this event has been extremely traumatic for him. This weight will follow him for the rest of his life. He prefers to stay nameless because of this. We kindly request that the public and the media maintain his privacy in light of the extensive attention.
On surveillance footage, the would-be thief is shown taking control of the taqueria and pointing a fake gun at patrons as they empty their wallets of cash and lay it on the tables and floor.
The vigilante customer suddenly opened fire, forcing the robber to the ground. At 11.30 p.m., he returned the consumers’ money before leaving with the rest of the customers.
Sandra Guerra Thompson, a professor at the University of Houston Law Center, spoke to Eyewitness News about the incident, in particular the phoney gun the criminal was in possession of.
‘I know that there are a lot of questions about the use of a gun because it wasn’t a real firearm, but that really doesn’t make a difference because it was used as a firearm and a person would reasonably believe that they were facing an immediate threat of deadly force,’ she said.
Pedro Lopez, owner of the taqueria, said he and his employees are still in shock.
