Family Dollar Employee Facing Murder Charge for Shooting Attempted Shoplifter

Employee Antonio E. Batres, 21, allegedly shot the 49-year-old victim—whose name has not been released by police—at the store on Sunday afternoon.

Family Dollar with cars parked out front
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Image via Getty/Robert Alexander

Family Dollar with cars parked out front

An employee at a Family Dollar store in Houston is being charged with murder after shooting a man who was allegedly trying to shoplift, police stated. 

Antonio E. Batres, 21, reportedly shot the 49-year-old victim at the store on Sunday around 4:30 p.m. The victim’s name has not been released and is pending verification. Houston Police responded to the shooting before the city’s fire department transported the 49-year-old to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. 

According to a release from the city of Houston, the victim was confronted by employees after attempting to steal from the store. Batres is being held at Harris County Jail on $75,000 bond, per NBC News, and is reportedly due in court on Monday.

“Further investigation determined the victim had his back toward Batres, who then pulled out a pistol and shot the victim several times,” the release stated.

In other Texas news, a 26-year-old woman was charged with murder following an alleged “self-induced abortion.” She was held on $500,000 bond at the Starr County jail in Rio Grandy City, as Texas District Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez later released a statement about filing a motion to dismiss the charge, in which the DA said the woman, Liz Herrera, “cannot and should not be prosecuted for the allegation against her.”

“Prosecutorial discretion rests with the District Attorney’s office, and in the State of Texas a prosecutor’s oath is to do justice,” the statement reads. “Following that oath, the only correct outcome to this matter is to immediately dismiss the indictment against Ms. Herrera.” 

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