Man who tried taking Corvette was shot by owner, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A robbery suspect was shot to death Wednesday morning outside a poker room in west Houston, according to the Houston Police Department.

Police said they received a call about a shooting at about 3:56 a.m. in the Legends Poker Room parking lot in the 9200 block of Richmond Avenue.

It all started when the suspect tried to rob a man who was at Cafe Awtar, a late night Mediterranean restaurant in the same strip of businesses, according to HPD.

Police said the suspect was heard telling the man, who had a new model Chevy Corvette, "Give me your car."

"A couple of witnesses did see the vast majority of what occurred," HPD Det. Jason Campbell said.

That man, however, was armed and shot the suspect in defense, police said.

"He felt his life was in danger and was able to return fire and shoot the decedent two or three times," Campbell said.

That's when the suspect jumped onto a car, not connected to the victim or suspect, and fled the scene.

The car stopped in the parking lot of Legends Poker Room, where the suspect fell off and died, according to police.

The victim is cooperating with police, but no names have yet been released.

"That shooter is cooperating with our investigation and he has since been transported down to (HPD headquarters) where he is being interviewed by detectives. That suspect is dead on scene via gunshot wounds," Campbell said.

Editor's note: Initially, police told ABC13 a woman had been found shot to death in the Legends Poker Room parking lot.

SEE RELATED STORY: Security guard tackles armed man trying to rob game room in west Houston

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