[Houston Crime] foiled robbery at S. Gessner taqueria

Yes I've said that several times. This is the problem with these debates is that it's a false binary that it's either just just let the criminal do whatever or you can kill them. IN this case yes the initial actions of shooter are morally and legally justified. It's when the shooter disarms the robber and then executes them is the question.

It's not a matter of empathy for criminals. It is a matter of whether legally we accept the idea that you can kill an unarmed person. The responses that you and others are giving is it basically matters about context and that's it subjective.

 

deleted for lack of relevance.

 

Yes. As said I've never been in this situation and honestly I can't say for sure how I would act either but this is why we have a law with legal standards and trial by peers. It's not a matter of just saying what any particular person might do in any situation otherwise you could justify a lot of things just based on personal motivation. In Self-defense it is a "reasonable person" standard.

This is a quote from the Indiana Supreme Court that we use in seminars for self-defense:
“It is a settled doctrine of the law that if one be attacked he may defend himself using no more force than may be necessary to repel the attack; but should he go beyond this, and use more than necessary, he becomes a trespasser himself, and his assailant, though first in the wrong, may maintain against him an action for damages.”

As we've seen with a lot of cases where someone, whether a civilian or LEO, goes beyond stopping the immediate threat is the problem. For example one of the defense of Derek Chauvin's actions was that George Floyd had a long criminal history and was not cooperating therefore Derek Chauvin's actions were justified. For people who do martial arts this is something that we have to be particularly cognizant about because while we certainly can defend ourselves given the nature of what we do there is more scrutiny on the use of force. That is why I put the example if I stopped someone with a knife using a choking technique I wouldn't be justified in continuing to choke them until they are dead.

 

Forgive me for interrupting. This is pretty far off-topic, but given your martial arts background I thought I would ask... Can you recommend any videos, books, or short-term classes for men about self defense?

I realize this is a topic near and dear to you and that you've dedicated a great deal of time and energy to the subject, and that what I'm asking for is going to have limited value.

If you're unaware of anything off the top of your head, that's fine. I appreciate you just taking the time to read this and hope my question hasn't offended you!

 

No offense taken and happy to talk about it.

That's a pretty broad topic and can't recommend any particular books or videos. If you're serious about learning to defend yourself I would strongly recommend studying martial arts particularly competitive martial arts. Brazillian Jujitsu, Karate, Judo, Muay Thai, etc... If you want something shorter Krav Maga, Hapkido, and Systema seem to be the most self-defense oriented martial arts. I will caution you that the range of instruction out there is great and there's a lot of questionable instruction. This is the main reason why I recommend doing a competitve art. While competition isn't the same as an actual fight or a self-defense situation that you actually have to fight and beat someone by pinning, submitting, throwing, kicking and punching them makes it much more practical than just going set up situations.

Just to pimp myself here is a self-defense video I did a few years ago when there was a rash of knife attacks around the U of MN campus.

 

Thank you so much. Your video is great. Your instructions were clear, to the point and easy to follow. You seemed to be really enjoying yourself.

I'm not sure my body could take the abuse of training. Mayyybbeee one session? My elbows, shoulders and back are a complete mess and keep me awake at night as it is. Plus I can barely touch my knees when I bend forward.

While I think I at least look pretty good for my age, I realize that I'm beginning to break down and that it won't be long before I'll be an easy target for those that would do me harm. But... training would help level the playing field. No question. And you make it sound and look like fun...

I think I'm going to dig further into what's out there in my area. See if I can watch some sessions and talk to those involved. Maybe I can try it and see if I can take at least a little bit of instruction.

Brazilian Jujitsu appears to me to be the most practical of the "big" martial arts. That is, it appears like it would offer the most benefit in an impromptu fight/brawl. I will research the others further.

Thank you once again. I truly appreciate your time. I'll let you know if and when anything ever comes of it.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/houston-activists-call-arrest-armed-221611929.html

Houston activists call for arrest of armed taqueria diner who shot, killed robbery suspect

Community activists in Houston are calling for a restaurant patron who shot and killed a robbery suspect during a holdup to be arrested, saying he went beyond self-defense despite many calling him a hero.

Customers were eating inside a local taqueria when 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington entered and pointed a pistol at them and demanded cash. As he gathered the cash, an armed patron can be seen on surveillance video getting up from the booth he was sitting in and shooting his pistol at Washington multiple times.

"He was within the law when he fired the first initial shots," said activist Quanell X in a news conference in front of the establishment. "But we believe he went from being a law-abiding citizen to a lawbreaker."

Washington ultimately fell to the ground and died. The unidentified shooter has not been charged and has cooperated with authorities.

The man's attorney released a statement saying: "In Texas, a shooting is justified in self-defense, defense of others, and defense of property."

The armed diner has been hailed a hero by many but local activists said he went beyond self-defense when he fired several more times than needed to neutralize the threat posed by Washington, who was holding a fake gun.

"You do not go and shoot someone over and over when they are no longer a threat," said Candace Matthews of the New Black Panther Nation. "He was actually in the clear for a justified kill by shooting him like he did the first time when he was no longer a threat."

The shooter fired a total of nine shots as Washington was leaving the restaurant. Washington was shot as he was on the restaurant floor after he had been disarmed, Fox Houston reported.

"I'm hoping the grand jury does something because if they don't, the message that will be sent will be the wild wild west," Quanell X said. "He should be charged with something," saying the man left the scene before authorities arrived and fired even after Washington was unarmed.

He noted that he doesn't condone Washington's actions and that he deserved to be punished, but not killed. He also said the shooter dumped a drink on Washington as he was leaving the restaurant and threw a cup at him.

"At the least, it's called abuse of a corpse, that's a misdemeanor crime in Harris County," he said.

Washington's mother, Corine Goodman, said the shooter should have stopped firing as soon as there was no longer a threat.

"If you had to kill him, I can deal with that. I can come to grips with that. He did something wrong, I understand that," she said. "But for him to be shot four times in the back leaving and when he falls down and he shoots him four more times. He abused him."

A grand jury is weighing whether the shooter will face charges.

Washington had a lengthy criminal history. In 2015, he was convicted of a lesser charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection to the shooting death of 62-year-old Hamid Waraich a father of three sons who was engaged, KTRK-TV reported.

He was paroled in 2021 and charged with assaulting his girlfriend in December 2022.

"If the guy who stopped Eric was around 10 years ago, maybe I'd still have my dad," Aman Waraich, the son of the store clerk that was killed, told the news outlet.

"Eric was an evil criminal that took joy in harassing and robbing innocent families. The individual at the taqueria is a true hero!" Sean Waraich, the victim's other son, said. "He did the right thing in stopping the robber and in protecting the community from a dangerous perpetrator."

 

Quanel X is like the Malcolm X wanna be of Houston.
My favorite X is DM

 

Again happy to do it. I encourage everyone to get into martial arts. I would prefer they get into Judo but understand it's pretty hard on the body. Considering I tore up my rotator cuff this past summer and am still dealing with the repurcussions I fully understand.

If you live in Houston there are a lot of martial arts schools out there. I know there is a big BJJ community out there too. Check out a few schools and find one you're comfortable with. Also don't expect to suddently master things. Even for young and in shape people it can take time to get the techniques down.

 

The mistake is for showing up in a movie where Brad Pitt get's top billing. He should've shown up in a Hong Kong moview where things would've ended up differently.

 

I remember hearing about this Quannel X during the Joe Horn situation but don't know that much about him. I do worry that something like this will get politicized and people will view it through partisan lenses.

 

Lubys sighting. They still exist?

 

With Quannel, there's money involved somewhere. Most likely in this case he's working with family of the robber to sue the shooter (in this case, possibly for abuse of a corpse)

Quannel's publicity comes at a cost, he approaches victims or families of victims, or works with authorities to help track down suspects, and will agree to do so after they agree to terms on his "fee".

 

Quannel $

 

The conversation about that vid makes my head hurt.

 

Called it.

Correct decision.