Houston Pawn Shop Owner Kills Robber
[Guest post by DRJ]
The preliminary report suggests the owner acted in self-defense:
“Clifford Jerome Thomas, 36, wore sunglasses and a cap about 6 p.m. when he pulled a gun on the owner of Gulf Coast Pawn and Jewelry, 9440 Louetta, Harris County Sheriff’s deputies said.
Thomas threatened to kill the owner, who was working behind the counter. He took out a pair of handcuffs, ordering the man to his knees, deputies said.
When the owner refused to comply, Thomas fired at him, but missed. The owner was able to retrieve his own pistol and shot Thomas several times, deputies said.
Thomas, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, later died at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. The owner was not injured, deputies said.”
The article says the shooting will be sent to a grand jury. It should be an open-and-shut case if this report is accurate.
Still, it’s surprising that the robber may have been wearing a bullet-proof vest. The vest suggests he expected violence but I guess he gets points for being prepared (for all the good it did). Aren’t bullet-proof vests pretty expensive?
— DRJ
