Customer shoots man who police say robbed DeSoto Waffle House

A robber armed with an AK-47 was shot by a citizen with a handgun at a DeSoto Waffle House last week.

The robbery and shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. last Thursday at the Waffle House on Interstate 35. Police said the suspect came in wearing a hoodie and carrying an AK-47 with a large capacity magazine.

The suspect, now identified as 26-year-old Antione Cooper, robbed several customers, police said.

One of the customers was a licensed handgun hold and had his gun with him. Police said he was waiting for his wife to meet him at the Waffle House and he feared the suspect would harm her or harm other customers.

The customer followed Copper out of the restaurant, called to him and shot him several times when he turned around and pointed the rifle at him.

Cooper was hospitalized with serious injuries and was in a coma. He's now awake, but not yet able to speak to police about a possible accomplice.

The customer was not charged. A former Dallas County prosecutor said he acted well within his rights to shoot the suspect.

"The legal term is reasonable apprehension and if someone is robbing people with a deadly weapon, with a gun making threats and he goes out in the parking lot and he still has that weapon, a citizen can shoot him," said Toby Shook, a criminal defense attorney.

The case will likely be referred to a grand jury.