BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont Police say the loser in a dice game outside a Beaumont restaurant robbed his fellow players and then shot one of them early Wednesday morning.
Police were called to the Waffle House at College Street and Interstate 10 after the shooting was reported just after 3 a.m. according to a news release from the Beaumont Police Department.
One man was shot and taken by a private vehicle to a Beaumont hospital before officers arrived the release said.
Officers learned that several people were playing dice in the parking lot of the restaurant when the suspect lost his money and left the game only to return with a gun the release said.
The suspect began robbing his fellow players as they continued to play without him police said.
The victim refused to give his cash to the suspect who then shot him in the “lower extremity” according to the release.
John Denton owns a tattoo shop nearby, and he visits the Waffle House daily. He left the location about an hour before the shooting happened.
After 2 a.m., Denton said things tend to get more rowdy, no matter where you are. He said losing a dice game is no reason to shoot another person.
"When people reach that edge there's no going back, you know, so shoot one person, shoot twenty people, it's all the same thing, you're going to jail," he said.
The shooting comes at a time when Americans are on edge. Within the last 24 hours, a shooting scare at a Louisiana Walmart, mistaken gun shots in Times Square, and a falling sign at a Utah mall have sent people into a panic.
After the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Waffle House employee Mary Hines understands why. Hines doesn't work the night shift to avoid incidents like the dice game shooting.
She's been an employee for over six years. She didn't know much about the overnight shooting, but she hopes the victim is okay.
"I think it's stupid, over a dice game," she said.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
From a Beaumont Police Department news release…
On Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 3:04 a.m., Beaumont Police responded to 3987 College Street (Waffle House) in reference to a victim of a shooting.
Preliminary investigation revealed, that several subjects were playing dice outside of the Waffle House.
One of the subjects lost his money in the dice game and left, returning a short time later with a firearm.
The suspect began robbing people who were still playing the dice game.
The suspect attempted to rob the victim, however the victim would not comply, therefore the suspect shot the victim.
The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the lower extremity and was transported to a local hospital by private auto prior to police arrival.
The investigation is on-going. Anyone with information is asked to call Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS (8477).