Texas gun store owner opens fire on burglars, one dies from wounds miles away

CPR was performed on the man before he was pronounced dead at the scene.

By David K. Li
A 79-year-old Army veteran and gun shop owner near Houston opened fire on burglars, hitting one who was found dead on a roadside about 10 miles away, authorities said.

Raymond Balcerowicz, who lives on the same property where he runs both Central Guns and Central Barber Shop in Crosby, Texas, was jarred awake when burglars used a chain and their car to rip the gun shop door off at about 4:30 a.m., officials said.

“As soon as he heard the commotion, most likely from the door being pulled, is when he came out, so he encountered them pretty quickly,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told reporters.

The suspects opened fire before Balcerowicz took cover behind a tree and returned shots, hitting one of the burglars, officials said.

“A lot of shots were fired. He’s very lucky he’s alive,” Gonzalez said.

The suspects fled and several minutes later, a wounded man — later identified was one of the burglars — was found sitting outside a car in Baytown, about 10 miles away, officials said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-gun-store-owner-opens-fire-burglars-one-dies-wounds-n1111781