Preparedness
Texas Robbery Goes Awry Between Teenagers and Armed Citizens
In a startling incident in Harris County, Texas, a man found himself using his firearm to defend against a group of teenagers allegedly attempting to rob him with BB guns. The confrontation occurred at an apartment complex along Highway 249 just as Christmas was drawing to a close.
According to Major Suarez from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, authorities responded to the scene around midnight on Wednesday. Upon their arrival, they discovered a young man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. This individual, identified as one of the alleged robbers, was quickly transported to a trauma center for surgery.
While paramedics attended to him, two other juveniles were also found with gunshot injuries. These two children were hospitalized but fortunately their injuries were not life-threatening.
“During the incident, the juveniles approached the male, and they were displaying pistols,” explained Suarez. “The adult male retrieved his own pistol and shot the juveniles.”
The preliminary investigation revealed that the four youths, aged between 12 and 13, attempted to rob the man. However, the intended victim turned the situation around by using his firearm, resulting in three of the teenagers being hospitalized. Two of them have since been reported to be in stable condition.
The 25-year-old man involved in the shooting has voluntarily surrendered to the police and is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Authorities are still in the process of confirming whether the weapons used by the teenagers were indeed BB guns, as initially reported by KPRC-TV. The guns recovered from the scene are currently undergoing processing.
The incident has left the local community in shock. Resident Bruce Bailey expressed his dismay to KHOU-TV, saying, “Of all things, being Christmas, and this is a child, first thing that comes to my mind is, number one, where is the parent. Number two, if you got here with a gun, what are you doing out here with a gun?”
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Most people don’t keep traditional self-defense tools around the house, but that doesn’t mean you’re helpless in an emergency. The truth is, you already own simple items that can give you precious seconds to get away, call 911, or draw attention. The key is knowing what works, what’s legal, and how to use these items only to defend yourself when you have no other choice.
Here are five practical household items that can help you stay safe during a threatening situation:
1. A Heavy-Duty Flashlight
A solid, metal flashlight is one of the best non-lethal tools you can keep within reach.
It serves two purposes:
• The bright beam can disorient someone long enough for you to escape.
• The sturdy body gives you something to hold if you need to keep distance between yourself and a threat.
Keep one by your bed and another near your front door.
2. A Loud Personal Alarm or Air Horn
Sometimes the strongest defense is noise. A personal alarm or small air horn can draw attention fast and frighten off an intruder. These devices are inexpensive, easy to use, and require no physical strength. They also alert neighbors that something is wrong, which can shorten response time dramatically.
3. A Strong Walking Cane
For older adults especially, a cane can be surprisingly effective for self-defense if absolutely needed. Its length helps you create distance, and its solid structure gives you a way to push someone back without having to get close. Even if you don’t use a cane daily, keeping one near your bedroom can be smart.
4. A Fire Extinguisher
Beyond its intended use, a fire extinguisher can help you defend yourself in two ways:
• The blast of spray can temporarily block vision and breathing, allowing you to escape.
• Its weight gives you something sturdy to hold while you retreat.
Plus, it’s already a safety essential for your home.
5. A Kitchen Pan or Lid
If you’re caught in the kitchen, a heavy pan or even a metal pot lid can create an effective barrier. A lid works like a small shield, helping you protect your face and upper body as you move away. A pan gives you something solid to hold between you and a threat.
A Final Note on Safety
Self-defense is always about getting away safely, not engaging in a fight. Your first options should always be:
• Avoid the situation
• Lock or barricade a door
• Call for help
• Get to safety
Use objects only as a last resort and only to give yourself time to escape.
When a winter storm rolls in, life can shift fast. Roads freeze, power lines drop, and long errands suddenly become real risks. The good news is that a little preparation goes a long way, especially if you keep a few essential items within reach. These aren’t expensive or complicated. They’re simple, practical tools that can make all the difference when temperatures drop and help arrives slowly.
Below are five things worth carrying with you any time severe winter weather is in the forecast. Think of them as your personal insurance plan — small items that bring peace of mind in uncertain conditions.
1. A Fully Charged Portable Power Bank
If you’re stranded or delayed, your phone becomes your lifeline. It lets you call for help, follow weather alerts, and use GPS if you need to find your way. In cold weather, phone batteries drain much faster, so a reliable power bank is a must. Choose one that can charge your phone at least twice. Keep it in an inside pocket so cold temperatures don’t sap its power.
2. An Emergency Blanket
These lightweight, reflective blankets take up almost no space, but they retain an incredible amount of body heat. If your car breaks down or you get stuck outdoors, an emergency blanket helps you stay warm enough until help arrives. For older adults especially, preventing a rapid drop in body temperature is critical. Toss one in your glove box or day bag — you won’t notice it until you really need it.
3. High-Energy Snacks
In extreme cold, your body burns calories faster to stay warm. Carrying a small stash of calorie-dense snacks gives you steady energy and helps maintain body temperature. Look for items that won’t freeze rock-solid, such as nut butters, protein bars, granola, or trail mix. If you take medication that requires food, this becomes even more important.
4. A Compact LED Flashlight
Winter storms often come with poor visibility. Whether you’re navigating an icy path, checking under the hood, or signaling for help, a bright flashlight is worth its weight in gold. Choose an LED model with long battery life, and avoid relying solely on your phone’s flashlight. You may need that battery for communication.
5. A Small First-Aid Pouch
Accidents are more common when surfaces are slick. A small kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, medical tape, hand warmers, and any personal medications can stabilize minor injuries until you can get proper care. Add a pair of disposable gloves to protect your hands in freezing weather.
Preparing for winter doesn’t mean living in fear. It simply means respecting the season and giving yourself the tools to stay safe, warm, and steady. With these five essentials on hand, you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever a winter storm throws your way — and you’ll travel with much more confidence as the temperatures fall.
When emergencies strike, whether it’s a power outage, a storm, or a supply shortage the food you have on hand can make all the difference. Building a practical, long-lasting food stockpile doesn’t mean settling for bland meals or astronaut rations. With a bit of planning, you can create a pantry that’s nutritious, comforting, and ready for anything.
1. Rice: The Reliable Staple
Rice is a survival classic for a reason. It’s inexpensive, lightweight, and can last over 20 years if stored properly in airtight containers with oxygen absorbers. Pair it with beans, canned vegetables, or spices to make complete meals. Brown rice offers more nutrition but has a shorter shelf life about six months, so white rice is the go-to for long-term storage.
2. Beans: Protein That Never Quits
Dried or canned, beans are a powerhouse of protein, fiber, and minerals. They fill you up fast and combine perfectly with rice for a balanced diet. Dried beans keep for decades, while canned varieties are ready to eat in minutes just check expiration dates every year.
3. Peanut Butter: The Energy Saver
Packed with calories, healthy fats, and protein, peanut butter is a morale booster when fresh food is scarce. It requires no cooking, lasts up to two years unopened, and offers comfort in uncertain times. It’s especially useful for families with children.
4. Canned Meats and Fish
Tuna, chicken, salmon, and even Spam are excellent sources of protein and essential fats. Canned meats last several years and can be eaten cold if cooking isn’t an option. Rotate them every 18–24 months to maintain freshness and flavor.
5. Oats: Breakfast and Beyond
Oats are nutrient-dense, easy to prepare, and versatile, you can make oatmeal, granola, or even use them as a flour substitute. Stored in a sealed container, they’ll last for years and provide sustained energy.
6. Honey: Nature’s Forever Food
Honey never spoils. Archaeologists have found jars of honey thousands of years old that are still edible. It’s a natural sweetener, cough remedy, and wound treatment. Keep it sealed and store at room temperature if it crystallizes, just warm it gently.
7. Powdered Milk and Eggs
These are perfect for baking, cereal, or protein shakes when fresh dairy isn’t available. Properly stored in cool, dry places, powdered milk lasts up to 10 years, while powdered eggs can stay good for up to 5.
8. Salt and Seasonings
Salt isn’t just a flavor enhancer, it’s a preservative and electrolyte source. Pair it with spices and dried herbs to make otherwise dull survival meals much more enjoyable. Comfort food matters more than you think during stressful times.
9. Dried Fruits and Nuts
These provide quick energy, healthy fats, and essential vitamins. They’re ideal for snacking or adding to cereals and trail mixes. Store them in airtight containers to extend their shelf life up to a year or more.
10. Freeze-Dried Meals
Modern freeze-dried meals have come a long way, they’re lightweight, tasty, and can last 25 years or longer. Just add water and you’ve got instant lasagna, chili, or chicken teriyaki. They’re expensive, but worth including for convenience.
Final Thought
Survival food isn’t about hoarding, it’s about being smart. Build your stock gradually, rotating items so nothing goes to waste. Focus on variety, nutrition, and comfort foods that boost morale. The best survival pantry is one that you’d happily eat from even without an emergency.
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Wesley
January 7, 2025 at 12:13 pm
You don’t know it the guns are real
Rita Green’s Express Tax Svc.
January 7, 2025 at 12:18 pm
If I’m in a situation that’s a possibility that’s lethal. There’s no way for me to in that position to recognize if the weapons are real or not and the perpetrators are not going to say “It’s a fake weapon but I’m robbing you”. Even the law enforcement personnel perceive the weapons real and they’re trained. I’m 73 years old and I’m not going to take a chance of not having another birthday because of some kind of situation like this and I have the opportunity to defend myself against it.
phillip p henry
January 7, 2025 at 12:19 pm
kids should have enough sense to know better than to point any type of gun at a person.
James
January 7, 2025 at 12:22 pm
First of all a lot of BB guns look real and begins can take an eye out
Al Vaughn
January 7, 2025 at 12:45 pm
I have several instances with teenagers, hit in the back of the head, phone stolen, cold drink thrown on me.However, if one pulled any type of fire arm, I would not feel bad about using a fire arm to protect myself.These kids are old enough to know if you try to harm someone, you are putting your life in danger.
William Powell
January 7, 2025 at 12:45 pm
When you are threatened by one or more people you have to believe them.You don’t usually have the option to check their ID for their age or inspect their weapons to see what they actually are.
Shar
January 7, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Hard to tell if a gun is lethal or not, so the victim has every right to shoot them. Play stupid games, wins stupid prizes. Parents of those kids should be in big trouble, along with their children!!
john S nowosacki
January 7, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Don’t wait to find out if the gun pointed at you is a toy or real. It could cost you your life.
EDWARD SOMERS
January 7, 2025 at 12:54 pm
I would use whatever force necessary to end a threat, but then that presumes that I am aware of what the threat actually is in advance of making a choice. I doubt one would have time to determine the age of the assailants, or the lethality of the weapons presented; BB’s can be fatal or remove an eye. They may be ‘children’, but their fingers are perfectly capable of pulling that trigger.
Alfred Lester
January 7, 2025 at 1:13 pm
I agree Edward you’re spot on
steve
January 7, 2025 at 1:32 pm
Many BB guns look like regular guns. When it is dark and in an emotional state, it is not possible to tell the difference. You can’t just ask the criminal “is that a BB gun or a real gun”. The perp will lie, of course. Better safe than sorry.
Charles D Hadden
January 7, 2025 at 1:48 pm
Your question is ludicrous. Was the victim required to ask his attackers if they held lethal force? How many times has the whinny public said that BB guns were too dangerous and were too easily confused for real guns?Even some toy guns are now required to be a different colour like orange so as to identify them as not lethal to people like law enforcement.
Also, I was once confronted by a punk bragging that he could knock the S**T out of me and I could do anything to him with my CO2 powered BB gun. I replied to him how many times do you think I could place a shot between your eyes before you get anywhere near me? He shut his mouth immediately.
Colowinemaker
January 7, 2025 at 2:04 pm
How are you supposed to have knowledge of any type of weapon used on you by the perpetrator in an armed robbery??? I’m not going to stop, ask them if their choice is a lethal 9mm or Daisy BB repeater and then ask them to provide proof that they are legally eligible to conduct this robbery. You point any gun, real or not, at me, in an attempt to do any harm, no matter your age, you take your chances. AND why are they doing this and where are the parents??? Reality is: you choose to be stupid, brazen, play those ridiculous video games, idolize rap/gangsters, lack remorse or conscience, lawless, truly believe that you invincible, and you are highly capable of pulling a trigger, then you suffer the consequences whatever they may be.
Joy
January 7, 2025 at 2:05 pm
I completely agree. The citizen threatened should be completely exonerated. The juveniles brought this entirely upon themselves.
Ken
January 7, 2025 at 2:18 pm
You are exactly right. In an unknown situation with unknown assailants you don’t have time to play 21 questions. If these “youths” are robbing people at 12 years of age, then your life is certainly more valuable than theirs.
Don
January 7, 2025 at 2:23 pm
I’d love to see photos of the (children).
TheGreatAmerican
January 7, 2025 at 2:25 pm
This is the play stupid games win stupid prizes and it sounds like they won.
Bobbo
January 7, 2025 at 2:31 pm
Don, you be a rayciss!
Elloyd Tunt
January 7, 2025 at 2:41 pm
‘249’ has turned into another war-zone, as this event emphasizes. Hopefully the young punks, and that’s all they are punks, will remember what it feels like to be shot, maybe turning their lives in another direction. Option-2 Coroner’s van.
Sherry
January 7, 2025 at 3:45 pm
Yes, Edward, I agree.
Djea
January 7, 2025 at 5:49 pm
Thank God he shot that many of them. I would give odds that they will now have epiphanies and change their lives for the better. Meanwhile, Department of Children and Families needs to get involved. The parents are a huge part of the problem and need to be dealt with by judges no less than the children (but in a different way).
Let us just pray that the children’s court take a hard line with these kids and causes intervention in novel and effective ways. No argument that the DCF and children courts are part of the problem Time for them to think outside the box and become a solution.
Ronald R Reagin
January 7, 2025 at 6:33 pm
When you see the weapons not knowing if they are real or bb guns, the way they’re made nowadays you can’t tell the difference when you’re threatened. Also I see omenody coming at me with a weapon I’m not to worried but their age they’re a threat I will shoot to Jake sure I’m safrpe not to worried about them.
Bill Stephens
January 7, 2025 at 7:34 pm
Authorities are still in the process of confirming whether the weapons used by the teenagers were indeed BB guns, as initially reported by KPRC-TV. The guns recovered from the scene are currently undergoing processing.
How long does it take to determine if the weapons used were in fact BB guns? I should think roughly 10 seconds, perhaps less.
Arch
January 7, 2025 at 10:28 pm
Pellet guns can certainly be fatal and/or cause grievous injuries. People need to be able to protect themselves against perpetrators threatening anybody any potential harmful weapon. Citizens need to be able to protect themselves or intervene to protect others who are being assaulted. Criminals need to understand that any time they use a weapon in commission of a crime, the victim has the right to protect themselves with any means possible.
Bobby G
January 8, 2025 at 6:53 pm
You reap what you sow.
Jack
January 11, 2025 at 1:22 am
Even less dangerous items such as airsoft guns are hard to discern from real firearms without hands-on inspection. Helping move a late-teens relative to an apartment, I came across a very real looking black airsoft handgun. No way, especially in dim light and under stress, would I have been able to identify it as an airsoft pistol.