An attempted robbery at a Capitol Heights restaurant ended fatally when an employee shot the suspect who was assaulting workers. The investigation is ongoing.

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD (1-minute read) — An attempted robbery at the Oriental Express, a Chinese carryout in Capitol Heights, Maryland, ended when an employee fatally shot the suspect, who had begun assaulting staff. The incident occurred around 4:40 p.m. on a Thursday, when officers responded to a call regarding a shooting on the 5200 block of Marlboro Pike.

Upon arriving, the police discovered Victor Rios Rubio, aged 27, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Rubio was pronounced dead at the scene. According to police, Rubio was actively involved in robbing the restaurant and assaulting employees when one of the staff members shot him in self-defense. Authorities recovered the firearm used at the scene, and there were no customers in the restaurant during the incident.

This shooting has sparked discussions on self-defense, especially in high-risk jobs such as restaurant work. Employees in small businesses, particularly in urban areas, are often vulnerable targets for crime. When faced with threats, many turn to firearms for protection. In this case, the employee acted in defense of both themselves and their colleagues, highlighting the sometimes difficult choices that people in dangerous situations have to make.

Safety Tip: Before using a firearm in self-defense, make sure you are familiar with your state’s laws regarding justified force. Always consider de-escalation techniques before resorting to deadly force.