Woman shoots robbers’ SUV in Walmart parking lot

LA MARQUE — Police said a woman fought off armed robbers then fired several shots at them as they sped off in the La Marque Walmart parking lot Wednesday afternoon. The parking lot robbery could be related to a similar incident just 77 minutes earlier in Friendswood, that city’s police chief said.

La Marque police received a call at 2:47 p.m. about someone firing a handgun in the parking lot of Walmart, 6410 Interstate 45.

Officers arrived and spoke to a woman, 56, who has a concealed handgun license. Police didn’t immediately release the woman’s name but said she was the victim of an aggravated robbery.

“(She) struggled with her attacker, who was apparently attempting to take her vehicle, before retrieving a pistol from her vehicle’s console,” La Marque police Detective Danielle Herman said in a statement.

The woman pointed the gun at her attacker, a Hispanic man in his 20s with short, dark hair. He stood from 5-feet 5-inches to 5-feet 9-inches tall and was of slightly heavy build, Herman said.

The man brandished a gun during the attacks, but upon seeing the woman’s pistol, he retreated to his automobile, a newer-model, silver or gray sport utility vehicle, possibly a Nissan, with Texas license plate NMG714, Herman said.

The armed suspect was a passenger in the SUV, which had at least one other occupant, Herman said.

“As the actors attempted to flee the scene, the victim fired several shots, striking the rear of the actor’s vehicle,” Herman said.

The SUV’s rear hatch should have damage from at least one gunshot, Herman said.

Friendswood police believe the La Marque incident is related to an aggravated robbery about 1:30 p.m. at H-E-B, 701 W. Parkwood Ave., Friendswood Police Chief Bob Wieners said.

“We looked at surveillance video, and it matches the description of the La Marque incident,” Wieners said. “And the preliminary suspect descriptions are similar.”

While stowing groceries in her truck, a woman, 41, was approached by a Hispanic man armed with a handgun. He demanded her purse, and she quickly gave it to a second suspect, Friendswood police said.

The first suspect ordered the woman to throw her keys, which she did. He then ordered her into her truck, and she complied, police said.

The suspects fled southbound on South Friendswood Drive in a dirty or small, faded-green SUV, police said. The armed suspect wore a blue shirt and denim shorts. He was slightly overweight, had short hair and no facial hair.

The woman, who wasn’t injured, saw three suspects but couldn’t describe the other two, police said.

Police arrived within minutes but were unable to find the SUV, Wieners said.

Store security video showed the SUV leaving the south corner of the parking lot and traveling toward League City, Wieners said.

La Marque police asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 409-938-8477. Friendswood police can be reached at 281-996-3300.