Houston, Texas



From the Houston Chronicle of October 15, 2004



(Replaces an earlier post which contained apparent inaccuracies,

and which has been deleted.)

Accomplice killed in robbery attempt



Getaway driver runs over gunman before being shot



A man was shot to death after running over his accomplice during a botched robbery attempt at a west Houston Whataburger drive-through early Thursday, police said.



The holdup was thwarted when a pair of armed, uniformed security guards in the drive-though lane intervened after noticing the crime in their rearview mirror, homicide investigators said.



The incident began about 1:15 a.m. outside the restaurant, in the 1000 block of Gessner, when a man waiting in the drive-through was confronted by a gunman demanding money, police said.



The security guards, who were in a vehicle ahead of the victim's, saw the commotion and stepped out, police said.



The gunman pointed his pistol at the guards, then tried to run back to his car, police said. His accomplice, however, backed up the vehicle, running over the approaching gunman, investigators said.



The car also struck one of the security guards, knocking him down. When the driver steered the vehicle toward the downed guard a second time, the other security guard fired seven shots at the car. The driver was hit three times in the chest, Houston Police Department homicide investigator C.P. "Abbey" Abbondandolo said.



The driver then drove away south on Gessner under the Katy Freeway before he lost consciousness and hit a concrete barrier. The driver died at the scene, Abbondandolo said. His identity had not been released.



The other suspect was in stable condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital Thursday.



The security guard was treated and released.