Victim praised as suspects face capital murder charges
A Good Samaritan who was killed confronting two men during an armed robbery at an Asian restaurant died a hero, prosecutors said Monday.
Herman Browning was killed by two shots fired by the two men wearing ski masks in the crowded restaurant about 8:45 p.m. on New Year’s Day.
“Mr. Browning was a hero who died protecting his family,” prosecutor Britni Cooper said after four people were arraigned on charges of capital murder. “There’s no telling how many lives would have been lost in that restaurant if he had not done what he did.”
In court, Cooper said two women, Dadriana Holmes, 19, and Tiala Alexander, 20, went to the restaurant earlier in the day to case it.
Two men — Telavell Coleman, 18, and Enzo Ubadimma, 18 — and a juvenile who was not identified returned later to rob it.
The four named suspects made their initial court appearance wearing
orange jail uniforms and handcuffs before state District Judge Brock Thomas.
Several family members of the suspects sobbed as they watched the arraignment. They did not comment afterward.
In court, Cooper said the group is under investigation for several other assaults. She said the four suspects admitted their involvement after they were arrested during a traffic stop that also netted masks, gloves and a gun.
Police believe Coleman and the juvenile were the masked men at the restaurant and fired the fatal shots, Cooper said. Under Texas law, anyone involved in the commission of a crime can face the same charges.
Police said the shooting played out in front of about 30 customers dining at a popular Vietnamese restaurant, Huong Giang Hue, at 12345 Bellaire Blvd.
The two gunmen grabbed an unknown amount of cash from the register and then rounded up employees and patrons, forcing them to lie on the floor, police said.
The suspects began taking items from the customers when Browning stood up to confront them, police said. He pulled the ski mask off one of the assailants before he was shot. Police said they were hopeful surveillance video from the restaurant will help in the prosecution.