Robber shoots man after failing to steal car with manual transmission

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man was shot in the leg by an armed robber who couldn't figure out how to drive the car he'd just stolen.

It happened around 10pm Tuesday at the Silver Bell Grocery store on Northpost Street and East Mount Houston Road in northeast Harris County.

The store manager told deputies had just locked up for the night and was talking to some friends outside the store. A pickup truck with four guys then pulled up to them and robbed the store manager at gunpoint.

Three of the robbers jumped back into the pickup truck and took off leaving the fourth robber behind. That robber then tried to steal the store manager's car, but he couldn't get out of the parking lot because he didn't know how to drive stick shift.

Deputies say the robber got out of the car and spotted a neighbor of the store who was watching what was happening. The robber then opened fire on that neighbor, hitting him in the leg.

The neighbor was taken to the hospital and will be okay. All four armed robbers got away. Police did not release descriptions of the suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).