Wheelchair-bound veteran shoots would-be robber in Houston

A man in a wheelchair shot another man who tried to steal his bag Monday night in Houston.

Police said the incident occurred at the METRO station at Pierce and Main streets around 8:45 p.m., when the 18-year-old suspect approached the victim and allegedly grabbed his backpack. The two struggled over the bag, with the victim putting up a fight. The man in the wheelchair pulled put a gun and fired several times, according to KHOU.

METRO Police Department officers located the source of the gunfire and then turned the crime scene over to Houston police.

“The victim in the wheelchair was able to produce a firearm to defend himself and fired multiple shots striking the suspect,” Houston Police Department officer Lt. J.P. Horelica said in an interview with KHOU.

The robber was hit and ran “several hundred yards” before collapsing, police said. He was taken to a hospital for treatment for multiple gunshot wounds in critical condition but was later upgraded to stable condition.

He has so far been unable to speak with investigators, but is expected to face charges after recovering.

Police said the victim, a 64-year-old military veteran, was waiting at the station to take the bus home before the attempted robbery. The victim stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. He is not expected to be charged.

The incident occurred more than a month after two teens violently robbed a 44-year-old woman and left her paralyzed after body-slamming her.