Richmond, Texas

From the Houston Chronicle of May 26, 2006

Two teens wounded in attempted Rosenberg car theft

Two teenagers who attempted to steal a Rosenberg man's car at gunpoint were shot and wounded when the victim managed to pull his own pistol and open fire.

The incident happened just a block from the Richmond police station about 1 a.m. this morning, said Richmond police Sgt. Lowell Neinast.

Neinast said McRon Thompson, 23, had just left work and was at a car wash in the 1400 block of Jackson when he noticed three vehicles drive slowly through the parking lot. The vehicles left and then returned a few minutes later.

Thompson became suspicious and got a pistol from his car and loaded it and put it in his pocket.

A few minutes later Thompson saw [sic] was confronted by a masked gunman who demanded that Thompson get into the trunk of Thompson's vehicle.

While one suspect held Thompson at gunpoint, another suspect, later identified as Joshua Payne, 18, of Brookshire, drove Thompson's car to the 500 block of Calhoun. The men ordered Thompson out of the car and at that point he managed to get his pistol from his pocket and open fire on the pair.

Payne was shot in the back and the 15-year-old in the right shoulder.

The gunfire attracted the attention of police just one block away who rushed to the scene on foot and captured both suspects.

Payne was taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital and the 15-year-old to to Ben Taub Hospital where their conditions were not immediately available.

Both suspects face charges of aggravated robbery. No charges are expected against Thompson, Neinast said.