Tuesday’s grocery run at the H‑E‑B near Fountain View Drive and San Felipe Street turned tense when a former employee allegedly pulled a gun on a store security guard, prompting a brief lockdown. Staff quickly secured the building while police swept the parking lot, and the store reopened once officers gave the all clear. Authorities said the confrontation capped a string of repeat visits by the same man.
Houston police said they were called around 6 p.m. to that H‑E‑B after a man who had been let go five years earlier walked in, pointed a firearm at a security guard and then ran through the parking lot, according to FOX 26 Houston. Investigators told reporters the suspect had been formally trespassed from the store and had been coming by every week or two to harass staff. Police said they know who he is, but he was not in custody as of Tuesday night. Authorities said the individual will face an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge and possibly others, and H‑E‑B told FOX 26 the store "was briefly locked down out of an abundance of caution. The store is now open."
What the charges mean
Under Texas law, aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon is defined in Texas Penal Code §22.02. The statute and state sentencing guidance show the offense is generally prosecuted as a second degree felony, punishable by roughly two to 20 years in prison, although penalties rise in situations that involve serious bodily injury or when a security officer is targeted, as outlined in the Office of the Attorney General's penalty chart.
Retail safety and a wider pattern
Similar armed encounters in grocery store parking lots have been popping up around Texas in recent weeks, a reminder of how quickly routine errands can turn risky. In April, video captured two people trying to steal a pickup at a Southeast Side H‑E‑B in San Antonio, and one suspect pulled a gun on the owner, as reported by KSAT.
Houston police said investigators are actively working to track down the suspect in Tuesday’s case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department. For tip lines and reporting options, visit the Houston Police Department website.
