A quick break in the kitchen of a Houston Taco Cabana turned into a criminal case when a 19-year-old employee allegedly shot himself in the groin and then ended up facing felony and misdemeanor charges, according to court records.
Houston police were called to the Taco Cabana at 700 North Loop West last Wednesday for a report of a shooting in progress and found the worker bleeding in the restaurant. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. Prosecutors later accepted an unlawful-carry charge and also filed a tampering-with-evidence count, court documents show.
Responding officers found the employee with an apparent gunshot wound to his private area, and he was transported to a hospital, as reported by Click2Houston. The teen told investigators the gun was in his pants and "suddenly went off" while he was sitting on break in the kitchen, the outlet reports. Prosecutors accepted the unlawful-carry charge because he was under 21, according to court files.
One co-worker told investigators there was a loud noise like a firework, then saw the teen stand up and jump up and down frantically, according to court records reviewed by Click2Houston. The employee reportedly ran to the men's bathroom, exited out the back door, and later came back while colleagues called for an ambulance. He later told investigators he did not know where the firearm was and refused to say where he had put it.
Charges And Past Record
Court records show the teen was charged with unlawfully carrying a firearm and tampering with evidence after the incident. At the time of the shooting, he was serving 13 months of probation ordered in August 2025 in connection with a separate unlawful-carry case. Files also show a February 2024 unlawful-carry charge was dismissed after he completed a pretrial diversion program. Prosecutors noted those prior rulings and his active probation when making charging decisions in the Taco Cabana case.
How Texas Law Applies
Under Texas law, carrying a handgun while younger than 21 can be a crime when the weapon is carried away from the person's own premises, according to Texas Penal Code §46.02. The statute generally treats such conduct as a Class A misdemeanor, although punishment can increase in certain situations, and separate laws may apply to alleged tampering with evidence.
What Happens Next
Court records reviewed by Click2Houston did not list a public court date or identify the employee by name, and the outlet reported no immediate statement from Taco Cabana or the Houston Police Department. The case is set to move through the Harris County court system, with any new filings or a scheduled arraignment expected to surface in court dockets and future reporting.
