AUSTIN, Texas – Pizza shop employees in Texas turned the tables on an armed robbery suspect during an attempted heist last week.
Employees at Marco’s Pizza in Austin asked the would-be thief, identified as 19-year-old Richard Curtis, if he preferred prison or death as they pummeled the gun-toting man after he demanded the restaurant’s cash, Fox 7 reported, citing a police affidavit.
Curtis reportedly entered the pizzeria about 7 p.m. on Oct. 10. Upon entry, the perpetrator handed an employee a note that said, “Don’t say s–t, empty the drawer.”
During the encounter, Curtis showed the employee a gun in his waistband before the worker grabbed the suspect and placed him in a chokehold as another called the police, according to the affidavit.
During the violent tussle, the restaurant manager grabbed the firearm from Curtis’ pants and reportedly tried to discharge the weapon at the suspect. However, the gun failed to fire, so the manager then resorted to using it as a blunt force instrument and smashed it into the perpetrator’s face, according to the affidavit.
As Curtis apparently continued to fight, the manager grabbed a knife from the kitchen and gave the suspect an ultimatum during the struggle: “Prison or death,” Fox 7 reported.
Curtis wisely chose “prison” and finally stopped fighting as officers from the Austin Police Department responded to the scene. He was later booked into jail and charged with aggravated robbery, according to the New York Post.
One employee received treatment for a head injury, which occurred during the physical confrontation.
