Deadly Shooting at Houston Donut Shop Leaves Robbery Suspect Dead, Employee Involved
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A suspected robbery attempt at a southeast Houston donut shop ended in deadly gunfire early Thursday morning when an employee of the business opened fire, killing the intruder, according to the Houston Police Department.
The shooting occurred around 6 a.m. at the Snowflake Donut Shop on Winkler Drive, located just off the Gulf Freeway. The store, known for its early morning crowd of commuters and families, quickly became the scene of a fatal confrontation.
According to HPD, a man believed to be between 20 and 30 years old entered the shop wearing dark clothing. Authorities say he was allegedly attempting to rob the establishment when he was confronted by a store employee, who then shot the suspect.
The man died on the scene. Police have not released his identity, stating only that efforts are ongoing to confirm who he is.
“This is a busy place,” said HPD officer Socrates Trujillo, speaking to the media Thursday morning. “We have people getting some donuts or kolaches before they head to work or school. So, it could’ve ended very differently. Innocent civilians could’ve been shot and injured.”
Thankfully, no one else inside the store was hurt during the incident. Witnesses were reportedly present at the time of the shooting and are being interviewed by police.
The employee who fired the fatal shots has not been arrested at this time. As is customary in such cases, the matter will be referred to a Harris County grand jury, which will determine whether the use of deadly force was justified or if charges will be filed.
The shooting comes amid growing concerns about a recent string of attempted robberies targeting donut shops in the Houston area. Just last week, the Harris County Precinct 7 Constable’s Office issued a social media alert warning business owners and the public about a pair of young suspects believed to be involved in those crimes. Authorities, however, have not confirmed whether Thursday’s incident is connected to that string of robberies.
The case remains under active investigation, and HPD has not ruled out the possibility of surveillance footage helping to shed more light on the sequence of events.
Area residents and local business owners have expressed shock and concern following the incident. “This is normally a quiet area in the morning,” said Luis Martinez, who runs a dry-cleaning store nearby. “It’s scary to think this happened at a place where people go just to grab breakfast.”
Anyone with information about the attempted robbery or the suspect involved is urged to contact HPD’s Homicide Division or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
As police continue their investigation, the Snowflake Donut Shop is expected to remain closed for the rest of the day. It’s unclear when it will reopen.