HOUSTON Police on Friday identified two of three robbery suspects who were gunned down by a jewelry store owner in east Houston Thursday afternoon, and investigators said there may be a fourth suspect who got away.
Police said Nelson Tambora-Ramiro, 21, Onilton Castillano, 38, and a still-unidentified third suspect were killedwhen they attempted to rob the Castillo Jewelry store in the 4500 block of Canal Street.
All three suspects were Honduran nationals, according to police sources. It's not clear if they were in the country legally.
Sourcessaid the suspects were part of an organized group of robbers targeting Hispanic businesses in the area. They said they likely spoke only Spanish and one of them had rotten teeth. Police are hoping other business owners who were victimized by the groupwill come forward.
Investigators said two of the suspects posed as customers, and as store owners Ramon and Eva Castillo were assisting them, the third suspect entered the store, pulled out a gun and announced it was a robbery.
One of the other two suspects also pulled out a pistol, and the three forced the Castillos into the office area of the store.
Police said the suspects started tying Eva Castillo up and told Ramon Castillo to put his hands behind his back.
But Mr. Castillo used that opportunity to reach into his back waistband, pull out his pistol and shoot one of the suspects.
Police said the other two suspects started shooting at Ramon Castillo, who returned fire as he made his way to a shotgun he kept in the store.
Once he got the shotgun, police said Mr. Castillo killed the two remaining suspects.
Ramon Castillo suffered critical gunshot wounds to his stomach, shoulder and legs and was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital. He was last reported in critical condition.
His children issued the following statement Friday afternoon: On Thursday, December 16th, our parents were the victims of a horrible crime that resulted in critical injuries to our father, Ramon Castillo. Words cannot express our outrage at this needless act of violence. However, we are not surprised that our father chose to fight back against these attackers to save his property and most of all, to protect our mother and his wife of 30 years, Eva. We are extremely proud of our father for his heroic efforts and believe that he will make a full recovery. We appreciate the many words of encouragement and concern that we ve received and ask for your continued prayers for our father s full recovery. We do ask for some privacy during this critical and painful time.
Eva Castillo was not injured.
Investigators said a possible fourth suspect, who may have been acting as the getaway driver, got away in a gold, square-body, four-door sedan from the early 90s possibly a Nissan or a Toyota.
He is described as a Hispanic male, 20 to 25 years old with a buzz haircut. He was dressed like a construction worker.
Neighbors called Ramon Castillo a hero. They said their area is overrun with criminals, and Thursday s robbery wasn t the first time Ramon Castillo s business has been targeted.
Adolfo Marmolejo s barbershop is just a block away.
He still has a shattered window from one of the two robberies he s suffered here in just the last six months.
He was protecting his business. I mean I m pretty sure if I had a gun and somebody came in here and robbed me, I would do the same thing, Marmolejo said.
It s a pretty tough neighborhood. People are getting tired of getting robbed or getting stabbed, Jaime Alanias said. When you do bad things, bad things happen.
It s about time he did something about it, neighbor Theresa Arellano said.
He was waiting for them this time. They didn t get away. What can I say? I feel bad for the families, but when you play rough there are bad things that can happen, another neighbor said.
Yet another neighbor, who would not provide a name, said the suspects got what they deserved.
Criminals pack guns, but they re not the only ones. They gotta realize that, gotta always remember that, there s gonna be a time when it s gonna be their time. Not only the ones they try to rob, he said.
Police were asking anyone with information on this case or the whereabouts of the fourth suspect to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477 or HPD Homicide at 713-308-3600.
