Houston Store Owner Shoots, Kills Would-Be Robbers
- Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:30pm by
Meredith Jessup
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Faced with a break-in from robbers who threatened to harm him and his family, a Houston jewelry store owner was forced to defend himself with deadly force Thursday. The 52-year-old man killed three armed robbers, police say, after they used zip ties to tie up his wife. But when they went to subdue Ramon Castillo, the store owner reportedly brandished a pistol out of his waistband.
In the next moment, a gun shootout ensued, leaving gun shells and bullet fragments littering the store. After killing one crook with his pistol, Castillo grabbed a shotgun and fired at the other two. In the end, the three would-be robbers were killed at the scene.
“It is a pretty incredible story,” Houston Police Det. Fil Waters says. “The man, clearly defending his business, clearly defending his wife and himself. These three guys — there was absolutely nothing other than hijacking the store.”
Fortunately Castillo’s wife escaped injury as she dove behind a counter as bullets began to fly. In the shootout, however, Castillo took a bullet to the abdomen and would be undergoing surgery.
Nearby residents told the local news that they don’t have much sympathy for the crooks. Theresa Arellano described the Castillos as “nice people” who didn’t deserve to be attacked. “They’ve been in the neighborhood for as long as I can remember,” Arellano said. “Why them?”
Police are now examining the shop’s surveillance videos to piece together the whole story.
By Friday evening, Houston Police had identified two of the three robbery suspects, but believe a possible fourth suspect may have gotten away.
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Comments (210)
SIXBURGH STEELERS
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:40pmGo STEELERS !!
Report Post »katy
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:32pmOh and I wonder if we’ll ever find out of they were…um…ssshhhh….uh…you know…ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS!!!
Report Post »SickoftheSocialists
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 9:42amI was going to say, no one noticed that the dipweed reporter said three “Honduran nationals”…Illegals, for sure. Take notice, Mr. Obama, Secure the border!!!
Report Post »Fremmo777
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 5:14pmIs the Pope Catholic?
Report Post »firex1204
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:31pmGod be with you, Mr. Castillo. I’ll pray for a speedy recovery. Its about time justice is served. I’m tired of criminals getting over all the time. More of this is coming. Protect yourselves and your families. Thank God for the 2nd amendment. We can not let them take it away.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:29pmJustice was served and served well.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:16pmJustice was served. If this kind of thing happened more often, perhaps they’d be a lot less theft.
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:15pmgreat day for the working class ,,, thanks for taking three tugs off the street and hopefully the cops will get the fourth one
Report Post »KimNTennessee
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:08pmIf he hadn’t had his own weapon and had to depend on someone else to take care of the situation, he and his wife would probably be dead. “Shoot to protect yourself first, call 911 later”.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:07pmI wonder how many similar robberies will NOT be committed because of outcome of this one. How many other lives might be saved because of the example of what happens when ordinary people have the means to protect themselves, their families, and their businesses. Maybe the next thugs who are capable of thinking will have second thoughts before they commit a similar crime.
Report Post »Capt_Spalding
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:02pmWhen is the medal ceremony for this hero? God bless him!
Report Post »ILoveGlenn
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:53pmThis is sad, and I pray for the victims’ families.
Having said that, I wonder if CNN will use this incident to debate gun control.
Report Post »triper57
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 3:33pmAre you trying to say that the robbers are the victims?
Report Post »Stevie Scardone
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:51pmLike the man said; when you seconds count, the police are minutes away!
Report Post »PattyCakes4USA
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:50pmDangerous out there for criminals with armed private citizens. DOJ will probably want to sue Mr. Castillo.
Report Post »VermontPatriot
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 6:07amI am sure Eric Holder will come down with all of the weight of the Justice Dept., to investigate, intimidate, and to make the Castillo‘s lives hell for offing three of Barry’s voters.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:50pmA good man defending his family and business. I wonder though how long it will be before some liberal politician starts bemoaning the violence and death and advocates more gun control? Fortunately most Americans will just laugh at them as crazy crackpots.
Report Post »ataxia162
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 11:54pmTrue Gun Control is when you hit what you shoot at
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 6:12amIt will NEVER happen in Texas.
Report Post »Ilovenh1
Posted on December 19, 2010 at 1:27pmAs a firearm instructor I teach the the three pinnacles of “gun control”
1. A good Holster
2. A proper grip.
3. Rapid target acquisition and tight grouping.
Report Post »Modawg734Blue
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:46pmGod bless this brave store owner and grant him a speedy recovery. Thank God for the second Amendment. He and his wife would be dead now, if they had not been able to defend themselves.
Report Post »Tuesday
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:45pmThis is very sad. Three lives are gone, but they should have known better. I hope Mr. Castillo recovers fully from his wounds.
Report Post »what4
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:13pmNothing sad about losing those three….even if you were related!
Report Post »bulletsinthegun
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:45pmgood job Mr. Castillo, god speed in your recovery, you are a great american
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:43pmthat will teach the local thugs a lesson.good for the businessman so glad he will live and his wife escaped injury i tip my hat to the business man good job
Report Post »ddritter
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:42pmWay to go. Just saved the taxpayers approx. $3,000,000 in legal costs and incarceration costs.
Three less scumbags on the earth tonight.
The 2nd amendment protects the other 9.
Remember it.
Report Post »Government SNAFU
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:50pmWell put! GET WELL SOON CASTILLOS!
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:54pmSuperb.
Report Post »patriot308
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:41pmThank You Mr. Castillo! I love it when people remove garbage from their streets.
Report Post »WAR PIGS CRAWLING
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:15pmSave your wife from armed robbers…..you are golden for Christmas presents this year.
Report Post »G.W. Dobbs
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 1:41am1:4 are licensed to carry here in my State; criminals know that they CAN and WILL be killed.
Report Post »mndjohnson
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:40pmGlad the victims survived. Pray they can put this behind them and get on with their lives.
Report Post »patricius
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:39pmTo “bound” his wife? (bind) “Garnished” a pistol? (brandished)
The indifferent degeneration of the English language continues apace.
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:53pmMs. Jessup’s job has nothing to do with efficient or proper usage of the English language. Her job is to inspire the mindless Beck-Bots to pray, as opposed to think. As you can clearly see, her mission has been accomplished.
Papahall08
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:02pm@ Broker: Can you explain to me why it is a bad thing to pray for someone else? Whether you are a believer or not, why does that bother you? You can’t possibly think that because someone believes in God they are mindless sheep in every way.
Report Post »patricius
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:03pmI pray and think. I’ll pray for you to rise above your soulless sanctimony.
Report Post »katiefrankie
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:07pmI stumbled over “bound,” too, while reading the article out loud to my husband. That should be “bind,” folks. And “would” be undergoing surgery? Shouldn’t that be “will”? I read a lot of online news and am aghast at the number of typos and grammar disasters that regularly litter the pages.
Report Post »katiefrankie
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:08pmWas the pistol garnished with parsley, or do you think it was radish florets?
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:20pmBROKER
have you prayed with your wife about your porn problem?
God Bless
UMMAH GUMMAH
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 1:01am.
libs make plenty of mistakes when it comes to spelling punctuation and everything else.
And don’t get me started on diction! Does Jesse Jerckson and Al Fartson ring a bell?
We could also mention the near-demented Joe Biden, but I‘ll be charitable and stop here since I’m already more than comfortably ahead.
.
.
Report Post »BlueStrat
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 1:51am@ Broker0101
I pray and think.
I also pray that you might think.
Sadly, the latter has not yet happened.
I won’t give up hope however even if you have, or have never had it to begin with.
Just consider…you could become living proof of Divine Intervention in the form of a miracle simply by learning to engage in constructive and logical cognitive activity like the rest of us.
We’ll understand, however, if you are a bit intimidated by setting the bar so high. Just to show there‘s no hard feelings and that we’re mindful of your safety while you’re attempting to ascend to such dizzying intellectual heights, I‘m sure that we’d all be willing to contribute to a “Helmet For Broker0101” charity fund.
Hope, Faith, and Charity at work, baby!
Report Post »Jsh1284
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 2:16amI know I shouldn’t feed the trolls .. but …
Broker, I’ll pray for you! You, my friend, are the robot! You’re exactly like all of the other elitist robots and trolls who are occupying our land and destroying this republic. Do you actually think you peons are somehow intellectually superior to us? REALLY? Because we believe in GOD, FREEDOM, and CAPITALISM? I’m sorry to break this to you sir, but in the dictionary, there should be a footnote next to the words ELITIST and STATIST with your name in them.
You folks are no better than the rest of us. You simply have a different opinion. A warped and skewed albeit .. however it‘s no better than MY world views or that of anyone else’s on this site. NOR in this NATION or WORLD!
See, people like you call for political correctness, equality, free speech etc. The funny thing is it’s a one-way street! We MUST accept YOUR views! You don’t accept OURS though! Your views are simply MUCH better than ours! With that said, we should just shut up and accept them as the truth! Why? Because we’re wrong, and stupid, and generally have an inferior intellect. The only problem with THAT point of view, sir .. is that it shows the world you are ignorant as hell.
Once again, you’ll be in my prayers …
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 6:09amBroker…come to Texas and rob a jewelry store, we will show you two things…How the Constitution works and the doorway to hell.
Report Post »ddritter
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:39pmGood job. Saved the taxpayers approximately $3,000,000. in legal fees and incarceration costs.
Three less scumbags on the earth tonight.
The 2nd amemdment lets us enjoy the other 9.
Remember it.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:05pmPerfectly said.
Report Post »iamazsrt
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:33pm3 less S*#t bags and a lot of tax money saved not only in court and incarceration costs but I am willling to bet they were using public assitance in one form or another. Eevry citizen in every state should be able to defend themselves and their property.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on December 19, 2010 at 3:00pmI wonder what his grouping looked like on the dead criminals bodies.
Report Post »BlazingBlonde
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:37pmThe simple kind of justice most of us can completely understand. Trial is over and had the correct outcome. I hope the Castillos will get thru the trauma.
Report Post »GeauxAlready
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 11:05pmEverybody should buy something from his store.
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 11:36pmI agree. I have two observations though:
Report Post »1) A jewelry store in that neighborhood, having anything worth robbing which would require 3-4 men, seems unusual.
2) Most jewlry stores with anything worth robbing have a system in which you need to be buzzed in & out. If that is the case here, I wonder if any anti-gun nut cases will make the arguement that they could NOT flee, making this an illegal shooting.
untameable-kate
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 12:38amI never saw a jewelry store that you have to get buzzed into, maybe you go to way fancier stores than me. Man was protecting his wife and property so he was within his rights.
Report Post »runtothehills
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:37pmGreat ending, bad guys die
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:35pmNice to know zero tax dollars will be spent to house and feed them in prison.
Report Post »nhall729
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 12:00amReally? Is that a great ending? I think it’s a tragic ending, although a just ending brought about by the robbers.
Report Post »usmcflyr
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 12:26am@ NHALL729,
It is tragic that these individuals chose the path they chose, which only lead to a dead end (no pun intended). In such a self-inflicitng situation were one or the other side had to lose in order for the other to win, I am thrilled that the law-abiding citizens were the ones who got to breathe another breath of fresh air. The tragedy in this story occurred long before the first shot was fired.
Report Post »orkydorky
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 4:51amThe real tragedy here is the one not reported, the one where the citizens were killed by the robbers because they were left unarmed by unconstitutional laws passed gun control nuts that think the constitution is something to wipe their butts on!
Report Post »guyperram
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:36pmMy hopes and prayers are with this brave businessman. My he recover completely in every way.
Report Post »Good shooting and I’ll bet the scumbags in the area avoid them like the plague.
Sinista Mace
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:55pmYea!!!!!
Report Post »Papahall08
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:57pmHero, plain and simple.
Report Post »RightWrite
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 9:58pmThe three most valuable precious metals; Gold, Silver, Lead…don’t leave your home (or business) without it!
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:05pmWhen seconds count, the police are only minutes away! Nice to know this guy had that figured out and protected himself and his wife. Hope he makes it ok.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:28pmIm confused…..liberals say that guns are never used to defend a person…..but this seems oddly enough like someone did just that…..Time to arm up America and get rid of many more dangerous scumbags.
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:43pmI second that motion.
Report Post »touch
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:46pmCongratulations!!!
Report Post »*************************
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 10:49pmWhat kind of reporting is that? The crooks … male? female? white? black? chicano? citizens? illegal aliens? Kenyans? Keynesians?
[Gabby Johnson on the roof with a spy glass spots the new sheriff]
Report Post »GABBY JOHNSON: “Hey! The sheriff’s a nig…” [clock bell chimes]
HARRIET JOHNSON: “What did he say?”
Dr. SAM JOHNSON: “He said the sheriff’s near.”
GABBY JOHNSON: “No, gone blame it dang blammit! The sheriff is a nig…” [clock bell chimes]
-Blazing Saddles
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 11:50pmIf we just had Gun Control, those poor misguided Robbers would be alive. Maybe Florida can debate this when they discuss Gun Control. I guess that was a gun in his pants and he wasn’t just glad to see them.
Don’t mess with Texas
Report Post »(you don‘t know where they’ve been)
nhall729
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 11:54pmVery sad that the store owner was forced into action. Their blood is on their own heads, but that does not mean we do not mourn them also.
Report Post »bjornskis
Posted on December 17, 2010 at 11:57pmas usual they pick an easy target but I guess NOT
Via con Dios
Report Post »psst
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 12:01am@ WrightWrite. Lead is numero uno.
Report Post »W/O it, you may not be able to keep the other 2
Adam Coble
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 12:14amAn armed society is a polite society.
Report Post »CYCLONE
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 12:24amAWESOME !!!! … way to go brother…!!!
Report Post »UMMAH GUMMAH
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 12:45am.
Good JOB! Too bad this hardworking businessman and his wife had to go through this in the first place.
It’s safe to assume that the three criminals he took out had long records and were free on bail, furlough or early release.
.
Report Post »UMMAH GUMMAH
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 12:46am.
Wars are caused by undefended wealth.
-Ernest Hemingway
.
Report Post »Dakotobol
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 1:25amGood thing he was here in Houston and not up there in ya’lls beloved NEW YORK CITY!! He and his family would be dead!!! And please..New Yorkers…don’t jump my butt,,I’m not dissing your citizens…just your leaders who would have preferred you dial 911 and wait and watch your loved one’s being slaughtered!!!
Report Post »sanchiro
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 1:28amThank goodness the brave business man has saved not only the lives of his family but also millions that the community would have otherwise paid in legal costs, meals, laundry, and all the other expenses to keep those three musketeers alive in jail or prison. Shed a tear for the lawyers, now poorer for their loss of three new clients!
Report Post »RightWrite
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 3:02amForget the investing in gold…Lead is of more use, and saves the taxpayers on paying for trials and prison.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 6:04amI love my home in Texas, where conceal carry is a wonderful way of life. I lved in Houston for a long time and finally moved out of that stinkhole. Now I carry concealed every day because of all of the crap I saw in Houston.
We had the same thing happen in my small town a few months ago with the same results. Only one dead though, the other two got away, too bad.
Thank that shop owner for saving us the expense of a trial, I hope he is OK…
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 7:47amThis is a story that has a very happy ending, excluding the part about the business owner being injured, other than that “great job” we need more testimonials like this on why the first amendment is there and works. I wish a speedy and total recovery to the store owner. Plus, this is a fine example on how to reduce spending within the criminal justice system.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 7:48amSorry, should be second amendment.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 7:58amWhat? No “40 Days and 40 Nights” to make it right? Humm…An ETERNITY to PAY FOR their last “deeds” on this Earth…DEATH may look like a cake walk compared to ANSWERING to the MAIN MAN!
Report Post »DaveTaylor
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 9:18amWhy do all video links have an add…..MUTE MUTE MUTE
Report Post »Kenley
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 9:37am1.What is a “Gun casing?” Is that the hard case that some pistols come in when new?
Report Post »2.Only a jewelry store owner or a pimp would “gernish” a pistol from his waistband.
3.I doubt that bullet fragments litteres the floor. Glass?
Polwatcher
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 9:47amWe should give him a handsome reward for saving all of us a lot of money.
Report Post »hooah1701
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 9:48amNow that is what I call gun control. Three dead bad guys = gun control.
My heart and prayers are with the Castillo family.
Hooah!!!!
Report Post »BrotherWill
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 11:13amAmen.
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 12:09pmRamon, is a hero and three drains on society are no more. Society is better today because of Ramon. That‘s a fact and it’s indisputable.
We’ve been seeing a lot more of this locally of late. That is, store owners and residents killing robbers and home invaders. In every case locally, no charges have been pressed against the store owner or home owner. That’s a benefit of living in a conservative area. The increase has a direct tie to unemployment and illegal immigration. Both can be laid at the feet of the last 4 years of extremist liberal control of congress last 2 years of the executive branch.
Since 98.2% of all violent felons are Democrats, the Demo-rats just lost 3 voters. Too bad, so sad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8DnA4Ro9tQ
Report Post »Mad Az Hell
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 12:42pmDon’t look for this in lamestream media! Guns don’t kill, people who know how to use them against scum of the earth do!
Report Post »kindling
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 1:06pmI would not put that gun away if there was one more. He may come back to finish the job. I hope he fails if he does come back.
Report Post »Snapperhead
Posted on December 18, 2010 at 8:30pmFirst,
God bless the right to bar arms and the American Constitution for the sake of innocent people to have the ability to defend themselves against evil.
I pray for this brave man’s speedy recovery and for his wife and family.
I pray for GOD’S forgiveness to these 3 lost souls who chose to do this stupid crime.
It is not for us to judge their actions but to pray for them that they may be saved even though they have transgressed.
Second,
Now I want to know if the guns these criminals had were legal or not or if they were legal citizens or not, if they had prior records or not. Not to judge them, but to judge our system and know if it failed yet again because of political correctness and blindness to the truth.
Third,
We must secure our borders, protect our citizens and restore the American Ideals of Truth, Justice and the AMERICAN Way. Ya I know that sounds a little superman corny, but it is how I feel. Our Government must be reminded of its responsibility to the citizens.
Fourth
Lord Send us a Hero to help reverse this deterioration of values within society and government. Send us another instrument of your love so that we can reverse the evil that has infected our great land so that we can again be a country of vision and leadership and hope for this world until your SON returns.
Fifth,
Lord, I petition to you for your blessing upon this great country. Protect us in our hour of need. Protect us from the evils of this world. Help this great Land purge itself from the evil that has infected it and now threatens to destroy us all. Amen.
For all of you who feel you have faith, who believe in the one GOD, Look into your own hearts and pray. Also we must act, not with force, but with conviction, with truth, with LOVE of our self and fellow mankind, with solidarity and with purpose to right the course our great nation is on.
ROCK ON! AMERICA!
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on December 19, 2010 at 2:58pmWhoa! Nice shootin TEX!
Report Post »strongtexan
Posted on December 19, 2010 at 5:35pmI wonder if Castillo yelled out *”Hey boys, do you like apples!!?“ ”Well, how do you like them apples boy!!”
Report Post »*Courtesy – Michael Berry Show