Texas armed robber shot in face by victim days after permitless carry begins

HOUSTON — An armed robbery suspect was shot in the face on Wednesday in Texas when the victim pulled out his own weapon and fired at him, just days after a state law went into effect allowing residents to carry handguns without permits.

“He was shot in the face one time. He’s at the hospital. He’s going to live. He’s conscious and breathing right now,” Lt. R. Wilkens of the Houston Police Department said.

The victim was walking to a local Shell gas station Wednesday evening to make a few purchases when the suspect approached him, lifted his shirt to expose a firearm and demanded the man’s valuables, NEWS4SA reported.

However, the victim was also armed. Consequently, he drew his weapon and shot the suspect in the face. The suspect is in police custody while undergoing medical care.

No charges are expected to be brought against the victim since he was defending himself, according to the news outlet.

“He’s being extremely cooperative. He has no criminal history whatsoever,” Willkens said of the victim.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a “constitutional carry” bill into law this summer allowing Texans to carry handguns in public without going through training or obtaining permits. The law went into effect on Sept. 1, days before the shooting, Fox reported.

“You could say that I signed into law today some laws that protect gun rights,” Abbott said in June when he signed the bill. “But today, I signed documents that instilled freedom in the Lone Star State.”