Mom of fatally shot restaurant robber says customer who fired multiple rounds ‘abused’ her son: ‘Why didn’t you stop? … He was already dead … That hurts.’

The mother of a Houston restaurant robber who was fatally shot by a customer earlier this month said the customer, who pulled the trigger multiple times, “abused” her son at that moment KRIV-TV reported.

“I don’t hate him. I can’t hate him,” Corine Goodman said of the unnamed client in a recent interview with the network. “But I want to know why you didn’t stop? If you had to kill him, I can handle it. I can deal with that. He did something wrong. I get that Mal stab in the back and if he falls down does he shoot him four more times? you abused him He was already dead. And that hurt. That hurt.”

What is the background?

Houston police said KHOU TV in the station’s original story that a gunman wearing a mask entered Ranchito Taqueria in South Gessner near Bellaire Boulevard shortly before 11:30 p.m. on January 5 and demanded money and wallets from customers.

One of the customers pulled out a gun and shot the robber walking past him:

Image Source: Video screenshot by KRIV-TV

KHOU said on its broadcast that it froze the surveillance video before shots were fired, but that the full video shows the robber being shot multiple times. KPRC-TV His video report said nine shots were fired.

Client who shot robber returned stolen money

Police told KPRC that the customer who shot the robber took the stolen money out of the robber’s pocket and returned the money to other customers. In fact, KPRC said the customer could be heard on surveillance video saying, “Come and get your money.”

KPRC added that the video showed the customer discovering the robber’s gun was fake and angrily throwing it against a wall. Investigators told KHOU the robber’s weapon was a plastic pistol.

Eventually, the customer went to the door, spilled a drink on the robber who was lying on the ground, and walked out, KPRC said.

Those in the restaurant left the restaurant before police arrived, KHOU said, adding that there had been no reported injuries among customers or restaurant staff.

Houston homicide detectives later questioned the restaurant customer who fatally shot the robber. While the customer has not been arrested, charged or named, a grand jury will review the case to determine if charges against him are warranted.

What do we know about the robber?

The robber in that case has been identified as 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington, KHOU said, adding that court records show this wasn’t his first robbery.

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In 2013, prosecutors said he and others were charged with capital murder after a man was killed in an armed robbery. The charge was later changed to aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, and Washington was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

It’s unclear exactly when he was released, but he was last arrested on December 16 when authorities said he pushed his girlfriend on the ground and scratched her. Washington was charged with misdemeanor in the family and released on a personal statement of acknowledgment.

Image Source: Video screenshot by KRIV-TV

“I don’t condone what he did. He knew better. He never said anything that made me think he would go down that path,” Goodman added to KRIV in reference to their son robbing restaurant customers. “He started to work. He made an effort because he said, ‘Mom, if you send someone to jail, it breaks you.'”

In fact, Goodman added to the station that her son had promised her hours before the robbery he would do better: “Thursday morning was the last time he called me. He said, ‘Mom, son to mom, I’m trying to be the best person I can be.'”

She also told KRIV that four months ago Washington welcomed a newborn son – and that although she knew he was struggling financially, Goodman had never realized her son was so desperate for help.

“He’s not the monster people make him out to be,” Goodman added.

The client’s lawyer speaks

Criminal defense attorney Juan Guerra Jr. is representing the client who fatally shot Washington, and Guerra released a statement Monday, according to KRIV:

“My customer, who wishes to remain anonymous, was eating with a friend at El Ranchito Taqueria, and as can be seen in the video, a suspected robber entered the restaurant and pointed a gun at my customer and the other customers who were asking for money. Fearing his life and his friend’s life, my client acted to protect everyone in the restaurant. In Texas, shooting is justified in self-defense, to protect others, and to protect property. The client has met with the Harris County Attorney’s office and investigators with HPD homicide. He has every intention of continuing to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. When the investigation is complete, this case will be brought before a grand jury. We are confident that a grand jury will conclude that the shooting was justified under Texas law. This event was very traumatic, taking a human life is something he does not take lightly and will haunt him for the rest of his life which is why he wishes to remain anonymous for elming coverage we ask the media and the public to respect his privacy respect.”

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