Houston, Texas



From Houston's Click2Houston.com (KPRC) of January 7, 2004

Store Owner Shoots Alleged Robber



A southeast Houston convenience store owner shot an alleged robber Tuesday afternoon, police told News2Houston.Investigators said a man walked into the Lawndale Food Mart, 5545 Lawndale, around 12:45 p.m. and tried to rob the owner. The suspect was armed with a knife. The owner then pulled a gun and shot the man, before he could get to the money.



(The suspect) charged him with a knife behind the counter and attempted to rob him. It was an attempted robbery," said James Rachel, with the Houston Police Department.



"You hear on the news and you worry about that kind of thing, but it has never happened before," said Humaira Sadiq, the owner's wife.



The Sadiqs have owned the store for nearly two years.



"I was real worried, definitely. I was real worried," Sadiq said. "I don't know if he's telling me the truth or not -- that he's OK. You always worry. It's just normal.



"The alleged robber was taken to Ben Taub Hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach. His condition was not released.



The owner was not injured, but was shaken up over the incident, officials said.