Pistol-packing patron shoots robbery suspect in Texas City game room

This is what CCL is all about. You only need it once. 77 Year Old Vet.. Outstanding.

07:49 AM CDT on Tuesday, June 2, 2009

By Chris Paschenko / The Daily News

TEXAS CITY, Texas — A 77-year-old Korean War veteran fired one round Monday, wounding one of two masked men suspected in the robbery of a game room on the outskirts of the city, authorities said.

There were about 12 patrons inside Players Paradise, 4801 state Highway 146 Suite B, when a frequent guest knocked on the door, Capt. Brian Goetschius of Texas City police said.


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Video Slideshows Blogs The game room, which was robbed at 12:44 a.m., was open only to members, Goetschius said.

“They looked through the monitors and recognized him as being there before,” Goetschius said. “They ordered everyone to the ground, went through several wallets and got the apron from the attendant.”

The veteran, Robert Hays of Texas City, was thrown to the ground, and then a suspect went through his wallet, Goetschius said.

“The 77-year-old concealed gun permit carrier drew his .38-caliber revolver and shot one of the crooks,” Goetschius said. “The crook immediately fell to the floor, and he dropped his gun and he lost a shoe.”

The men fled through the back door with an unknown amount of cash, and at 1:18 a.m. police were notified of a man suffering from a gunshot or stab wound checking himself into Clear Lake Regional Medical Center.

There were no other injuries or shots fired.

Tyreese Ross, 34, of Texas City, suffered one gunshot wound to his right shoulder. He has not been charged in the game room robbery, Goetschius said, noting the investigation was ongoing Monday evening. Ross was under armed guard by police at the hospital. A call to the hospital seeking his condition wasn’t returned.

Police did, however, arrest Ross on a contempt-of-court warrant charging him with nonpayment of child support, Goetschius said. The charge carries no bail.

Ross pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in 1995 in the 56th District Court in Galveston.

Hays, who hasn’t been charged, had a permit to carry a concealed handgun, Goetschius said. Having a valid permit makes it lawful to enter a game room with a firearm, Goetschius said.

“We believe he acted within the confines of the law,” Goetschius said. “When our investigation is completed, the results will be turned over to the district attorney’s office for them to review for any charges.”

The game room’s parking lot is in the city limit of Texas City, but the building is in unincorporated Galveston County. Texas City is working the case with the sheriff’s office.

Of the game room robberies reported to authorities, this is the first instance of a patron shooting a suspect, according to the recollection of Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo, a sheriff’s office spokesman.

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