Gunfire erupted inside a busy Whataburger eatery in Texas on Sunday, leaving two customers injured in a bloody incident that was captured on cellphone video.
Police in Victoria responded to the fast-food restaurant on Houston Highway at 2.30am on Sunday after getting reports of shots fired.
According to police department spokesman David Brogger, Rudolfo Estrada, 35, and Lorenzo Banda, 34, had an altercation inside the crowded burger joint and opened fire on each other.
Rudolfo Estrada, 35, is seen shooting at Lorenzo Banda (off screen) after the man allegedly shot him in his midsection at a Whataburger in Victoria, Texas, on Sunday
Estrada is seen slumped on the floor against a blood-spattered wall after suffering two gunshot wounds
Another customer used some napkins to apply pressure to Estrada’s wound in an effort to stop the bleeding. The man later required surgery to repair the damage to his intestine
The men suffered at least two gunshot wounds each and both were taken to area hospital for treatment.
Witness Orlando Cantu told Victoria Advocate that Banda fired twice on Estrada, who then wrestled the gun from his alleged assailant’s hands and returned fire.
A short cellphone video recorded at the scene of the incident begins with an already wounded Estrada aiming the gun at someone off-screen and squeezing off two rounds before collapsing to the floor.
Distraught customers can be heard screaming in panic and shouting expletives in the background.
Several people rush to Estrada’s aid, who is seen slumped against a blood-spattered wall.
The 21-second video does not show Banda shooting at Estrada.
Police in Victoria responded to the fast-food restaurant on Houston Highway at 2.30am on Sunday for reports of shots fired
Ariana Munoz, a family friend of Estrada’s, revealed that he underwent a five-hour surgery on Sunday and was in a medically induced coma but was expected to make a recovery.
She said one of the bullets pierced his intestine and shattered his tailbone.
Based on his Facebook page, Estrada lives in Victoria with his three young children and works construction.
His friend described Estrada as a hard-working family man who minds his own business and never asks for trouble.
According to Munoz, early Sunday morning Estrada was getting food after attending a birthday party when the attack happened.
Estrada (left and right) is a father-of-three who works construction in Victoria. A friend said he keeps to himself and is not one to get into trouble
After the shooting, witness Orlando Cantu said Estrada was bleeding out and he grabbed some napkins and applied pressure to the wound until helped arrived.
It is unclear whether or not Estrada and Banda knew each other prior to the violent altercation.
Banda was listed in critical condition at University Hospital in San Antonio as of Monday.
The 34-year-old has a prior criminal record, that includes charges of theft, bail jumping and traffic violations. So far, no arrests have been made in connection to Sunday’s shooting.