robbery gone awry
Shooting at Washington Ave. Denny's leaves one customer dead and an employee wounded
Gunfire erupted at a popular diner on Monday when a late night robbery turned violent, leaving one person dead and another wounded.
The Houston Police Department tells CultureMap that three gunman wearing masks and bandanas stormed into the Denny's at Washington Avenue and I-10 around 10:40 p.m.
"The armed males entered the restaurant, immediately fired shots and order all customers and employees to the ground," says HPD spokesperson Kese Smith.
Witnesses inform KHOU Channel 11 that the men collected cell phones, purses, wallets and money from the cash register and purses. At several points, they even pointed their guns at small children.
But as the robbers prepared to meet a fourth suspect in a getaway vehicle outside, something went awry. The men became angry and opened fire, shooting a 64-year-old customer and a Denny's staffer who attempted to flee the scene through the front door. The trio then fled the scene in a minivan.
Customer Robert Placette was rushed to Memorial Hermann hospital where he died of his wounds just after midnight. The unidentified 43-year-old employee was taken to Ben Taub, where he remains in stable condition.
Those with information are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Watch the full KHOU Ch. 11 report:
