http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/1933478
A southwest Houston grocery store owner shot and killed two men
Saturday night while they were allegedly robbing his business,
police said.
Khaled Farah Yousef, 31, opened fire on the two men about 8:15
p.m. during the holdup at the Frutilandia #2 store at 7235 Hillcroft.
Police said one of the men was killed inside the business while
another made it outside, where he died. A third man, who
apparently was unarmed, fled and was later taken into custody near
the grocery.
Yousef was working behind the counter when the three men
entered the store. He became suspicious, detectives said, when
they split up and began looking through the business -- as if to see if
other customers or employees were there. The owner also noticed
that one of the suspects was wearing a heavy winter coat, although
the temperature was in the 90s at the time, police said.
Minutes later, all three men approached the counter where the cash
register was. One of them pulled out a pack of gum and asked
Yousef the price.
Yousef said the gum was 25 cents but later told detectives he didn't
open the cash register because he thought the men wanted to see
how much money was in the till.
The man who brought the gum to the counter pulled out a pistol,
police said, and demanded the money from the register. A second
man then drew a knife and began making "stabbing motions" at
Yousef.
Yousef pulled out the money and handed it over to the man with the
pistol. One of the other men attempted to take the cash register, but
failed.
The men continued making threats, even after Yousef gave them
the cash.
"When he gave the money, the suspects had the opportunity to
leave and didn't leave," said Houston police homicide Detective Phil
Yochum. "The store owner feared for his life."
That was when Yousef pulled a .45-caliber pistol from the
waistband of his trousers and began firing. The man with the gun
was shot in the chest and died inside the store while the
knife-wielding man collapsed in the parking lot.
Yousef was not injured, and although the investigation was
continuing Sunday, police said the shooting appeared to be justified.
They said at least one person inside the store witnessed the robbery
and confirmed Yousef's account.
Police on Sunday said the dead men weren't carrying any
identification.
A southwest Houston grocery store owner shot and killed two men
Saturday night while they were allegedly robbing his business,
police said.
Khaled Farah Yousef, 31, opened fire on the two men about 8:15
p.m. during the holdup at the Frutilandia #2 store at 7235 Hillcroft.
Police said one of the men was killed inside the business while
another made it outside, where he died. A third man, who
apparently was unarmed, fled and was later taken into custody near
the grocery.
Yousef was working behind the counter when the three men
entered the store. He became suspicious, detectives said, when
they split up and began looking through the business -- as if to see if
other customers or employees were there. The owner also noticed
that one of the suspects was wearing a heavy winter coat, although
the temperature was in the 90s at the time, police said.
Minutes later, all three men approached the counter where the cash
register was. One of them pulled out a pack of gum and asked
Yousef the price.
Yousef said the gum was 25 cents but later told detectives he didn't
open the cash register because he thought the men wanted to see
how much money was in the till.
The man who brought the gum to the counter pulled out a pistol,
police said, and demanded the money from the register. A second
man then drew a knife and began making "stabbing motions" at
Yousef.
Yousef pulled out the money and handed it over to the man with the
pistol. One of the other men attempted to take the cash register, but
failed.
The men continued making threats, even after Yousef gave them
the cash.
"When he gave the money, the suspects had the opportunity to
leave and didn't leave," said Houston police homicide Detective Phil
Yochum. "The store owner feared for his life."
That was when Yousef pulled a .45-caliber pistol from the
waistband of his trousers and began firing. The man with the gun
was shot in the chest and died inside the store while the
knife-wielding man collapsed in the parking lot.
Yousef was not injured, and although the investigation was
continuing Sunday, police said the shooting appeared to be justified.
They said at least one person inside the store witnessed the robbery
and confirmed Yousef's account.
Police on Sunday said the dead men weren't carrying any
identification.
, followed by 