A late-night fight over a parking spot outside a Midtown pho shop ended with guns allegedly pulled, restaurant workers injured, and two people in handcuffs, according to Houston police.
Officers were called Thursday night to Simply Pho on Milam Street, where a clash that started in the parking lot left at least two employees hurt before police arrived and broke up the chaos. Two people were taken into custody at the scene.
According to ABC13 Houston, officers responded around 8:30 p.m. to Simply Pho at 2929 Milam Street after a restaurant worker knocked on a car that had been parked too close to his vehicle. Investigators said the woman behind the wheel became enraged, and a man in the passenger seat began attacking the employee. Police allege both suspects pointed guns during the confrontation and that the male suspect pistol whipped employees who tried to step in.
Officers arrested two people later identified as Allen Monroe and Madison Subjects. Court records show both appeared in probable cause court and are charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Simply Pho is a long-running Vietnamese restaurant at 2929 Milam with a large menu and steady late-night foot traffic, a combination that can make curbside spaces hard to come by on busy evenings, according to Eater Houston. The spot sits along a crowded strip of Midtown bars and eateries where parking is tight and competition for a space is just part of the nightly routine. Local business owners say parking disputes in the area sometimes bubble over into louder confrontations.
Charges And Potential Penalties
Both suspects face aggravated assault charges that, under Texas law, turn an ordinary assault into a felony if a deadly weapon is used or serious bodily injury occurs. The Texas Penal Code §22.02 defines aggravated assault and outlines when the offense can be elevated, while Chapter 12 sets the punishment ranges. A second degree conviction generally carries 2 to 20 years in prison, with higher penalties possible in some situations, according to Texas criminal defense attorneys, who note that allegations involving a firearm often influence how prosecutors charge the case and what they recommend for bond.
The case will move through Harris County courts, where prosecutors will decide whether to seek formal indictments and what to pursue in terms of bond and potential penalties. Future hearings and court filings are expected to reveal more details as the investigation continues.
