A quiet night took a dangerous turn for a 79-year-old Army veteran when burglars targeted his gun shop. The confrontation ended tragically, with one of the criminals losing his life.

Raymond Balcerowicz, a seasoned Army veteran, faced a life-threatening situation early one Tuesday morning. Living next to his store, Central Guns, in Crosby, Texas, Raymond was abruptly awakened at 4:30 am by loud noises. He discovered that burglars had forcefully broken into his gun shop by ripping off the doors with a car.

This incident was not new for Raymond. Just two months earlier, his shop on Kennings Road had been targeted. However, this time, events took a deadly turn. The attempted robbery led to a firefight between Raymond and the thieves.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez explained, “As soon as Raymond heard the commotion, likely from the door being pulled, he confronted them quickly.” The suspects opened fire, but missed. Raymond, armed and ready, responded with precise shots from a .25-caliber handgun, hitting one of the assailants.

The injured suspect and his accomplices fled, leaving a trail of blood. Shortly thereafter, a 20-year-old man, later identified as a suspect, was found with gunshot wounds outside a car in Baytown, about 10 miles away. Despite efforts to save him, the young man succumbed to his injuries. He was identified as 23-year-old Jose Flores, and stolen guns were discovered beside his body.

Following the shootout, authorities apprehended two other suspects. One of them, Angel Cardenas, a 17-year-old from Baytown, faced felony murder charges due to his accomplice’s death. The vehicle they were in was linked to the crime.

According to legal documents, Flores was struck by bullets from two firearms, one of which was fired by an accomplice. Ballistics matched the bullets to both .25-caliber and 9mm handguns, the latter being used by his partners in crime.

Angel Cardenas also faced charges of tampering and fabricating evidence. Three weapons were found burned, two of which had serial numbers matching the stolen guns from Raymond’s shop. Cardenas was held in Harris County Jail with a combined bail set at $225,000.

As for Raymond, Sheriff Gonzalez emphasized, “A lot of shots were fired. He’s very lucky he’s alive.” It wasn’t just luck that saved him – it was his preparedness and training. The Second Amendment granted him the right to protect himself and his property. While Raymond faces the grim reality of taking a life, his friend Bill Newcomb reminded everyone that Raymond had no other choice.

Newcomb put it simply, “What else are you going to do? They keep coming back and breaking in.” This harrowing incident serves as a stark warning to other criminals. Underestimating a seasoned Army vet, especially one who owns a gun shop, can have deadly consequences. Flores learned this lesson too late – the older gentleman in this encounter proved once again that experience and skill count for a lot.