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Would this kind of thing scare you into not stealing beer? It would sure take a bite out of crime for me.
Police: Clerk shoots and kills man trying to steal beer
A clerk at a Ben White Boulevard convenience store shot and killed a man who officials say was stealing a 12-pack of Budweiser early Sunday morning, Austin police said Monday.
Jorge Luis Vielma, 22, and another man were on a “beer run,” according to police, and attempting to flee after stealing the beer. Police say Juan Romero, 23, pictured at right, a clerk at the Shell gasoline station at 525 W. Ben White Blvd., fired multiple shots at Vielma outside the store as he ran for his waiting vehicle.
Vielma later died inside the vehicle and was found shortly after 1 a.m Sunday in the 1000 block of Mansell Avenue, which is near U.S. 183 and Airport Boulevard. Romero was charged with murder and is being held at the Travis County Jail. His bail has been set at $250,000.
According to Sgt. Joseph Chacon, while Texas law allows residents to take reasonable measures to defend their property, officials determined that “at least on the face of it,” the shooting was not reasonable.
Chacon would not say where Vielma was shot, but said that the shooting occurred as he was fleeing and that police do not believe Vielma was armed. “Ultimately it will be decided by a jury or grand jury whether it was reasonable,” Chacon said.
Get the latest crime reports in your neighborhood with the Statesman's Crime Tracker.
Police: Clerk shoots and kills man trying to steal beer
A clerk at a Ben White Boulevard convenience store shot and killed a man who officials say was stealing a 12-pack of Budweiser early Sunday morning, Austin police said Monday.
Jorge Luis Vielma, 22, and another man were on a “beer run,” according to police, and attempting to flee after stealing the beer. Police say Juan Romero, 23, pictured at right, a clerk at the Shell gasoline station at 525 W. Ben White Blvd., fired multiple shots at Vielma outside the store as he ran for his waiting vehicle.
Vielma later died inside the vehicle and was found shortly after 1 a.m Sunday in the 1000 block of Mansell Avenue, which is near U.S. 183 and Airport Boulevard. Romero was charged with murder and is being held at the Travis County Jail. His bail has been set at $250,000.
According to Sgt. Joseph Chacon, while Texas law allows residents to take reasonable measures to defend their property, officials determined that “at least on the face of it,” the shooting was not reasonable.
Chacon would not say where Vielma was shot, but said that the shooting occurred as he was fleeing and that police do not believe Vielma was armed. “Ultimately it will be decided by a jury or grand jury whether it was reasonable,” Chacon said.
Get the latest crime reports in your neighborhood with the Statesman's Crime Tracker.
