HOUSTON – Charges have been filed against a suspect after an attempted robbery turned into a shootout involving a couple outside a north Houston gas station Tuesday afternoon, Houston Police Department officers said.
Mario Ipina Duque, 39, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful carry of a weapon. He remains hospitalized at this time.
According to HPD, a woman who appeared to be eight months pregnant was sitting in her vehicle outside of a store in the 8600 block of Fulton at around 5 p.m. when Duque and another suspect, armed with guns, approached her.
North officers are at a shooting scene 8600 Fulton. Adult male was transported and is expected to survive. Initial reports are the male was shot while committing a robbery. 202 pic.twitter.com/BRYnCiDGjd
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) June 28, 2023
Police said the woman was able to call her husband, who told him the two men were going to rob her.
Investigators said the couple both had guns of their own, and exchanged gunfire with the two men in self-defense. That was when, at some point, Duque was shot.
Duque was taken to an area hospital where he is expected to survive his injuries.
According to investigators, the second suspect took off in a green Charger. Police are searching for him at this time.
Both the husband, wife and baby are expected to be OK. The woman is expecting her first child, according to a family member who spoke to KPRC 2′s Cathy Hernandez.