Jewelry Store Owner Kills Robbers in Shootout

From the Houston Chronicle:

In the back room of a humble jewelry store and pawn shop in Houston's East End Thursday afternoon, a gunman tied Eva Castillo's wrists tightly — too tightly. She complained of the pain, so he loosened the bindings. Then Castillo's husband was ordered at gunpoint to put his hands behind his back.
But Ramon Castillo had a surprise for the gunman and two cohorts, who had announced they were robbing the business.
Castillo pulled a pistol from his waistband and shot the gunman dead. Then he grabbed a shotgun from his office and engaged in a shootout with the other two armed robbers.
When it was over, all three robbers were dead — and Castillo, though shot at least three times, was still standing, having successfully defended what was rightfully his.
Houston Police have identified two of the three robbers killed during a shootout with a jewelry store owner yesterday as Nelson Wilfredo Tambora-Ramiro, 21, and Onilton Bolanos Castillano, 38.
HPD spokesman Kese Smith said the two men had Honduran identification on them. He said their immigration status is uncertain.
The third robber’s identity is pending from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office.
It was the third time his shop, Castillo's Jewelry at 4502 Canal at Super Street, had been robbed since it opened 22 years ago, East End residents said. . . . .

East End residents smiled proudly when they learned how Castillo had taken charge and protected his wife of 28 years. It is the first time he has turned the tables on his attackers, they said.
"It's about time he did something," said Theresa Arellano, 49, a lifelong East End resident.
Neighbors described the Castillos as a hard-working couple who labor seven days a week and take care of customers who live in the neighborhood, selling jewelry at affordable prices and allowing people to pay small amounts y toward purchases in layaway.
They said Castillo protects his store like a fortress, using an electronic door to buzz customers in and out. Customers are locked inside the store until they leave. Numerous video cameras are inside. "He's done everything he can do to secure his business," Waters said. . . . .

Two other recent defensive gun use stories in the Houston area:

I am told that this occurred just down the street from the above attack and it obviously involves a concealed handgun permit.

Police were investigating Saturday after the owner of a grocery store shot two men who ambushed him outside his east Houston business.
Authorities said the owner of Shew Food Market near the corner of Canal and 76th was walking from the parking lot towards his store around 11:00 a.m. when two suspects ambushed him. The owner then opened fire, striking both suspects. One of the men died at the scene while the other was taken to the hospital in unknown condition. . . .

Another case is here.

One person was shot and another arrested Wednesday after two men robbed a pawn shop in northwest Houston.
The incident occurred at about 12:45 p.m. at the Sunbelt Jewelry and Loan shop at 3411 Ella, the Houston Police Department said.
After police received a report that someone sounded a holdup panic alarm, a caller informed them two men had robbed the shop and fled.
One of the employees at the shop was shot during the robbery and was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital. That person's medical condition was not known.
Police arrested at least one of the suspects. . . .

Thanks to Jeff Yager for all three links.