Father gunned down in front of children during robbery, shootout in SW Houston

HOUSTON – A young father and would-be robber were killed Sunday in a shootout in southwest Houston, police said.

According to police,  Manuel Rodriguez, 28, was unloading groceries with his wife and three children around 8:30 p.m. outside the Santa Monica Apartments in the 7000 block of Ashcroft Drive when a would-be-robber walked up to his family.

Houston police said Rodriguez struggled with the man, then pulled out a gun and shot him several times. The robber shot back, hitting the father in the chest, police said.

Both men were taken to a hospital, where they died.

The woman and children were not hurt, police said.

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