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The owner of Hungry Howie's in Town 'N Country used the .44-caliber pistol he decided to carry after being robbed a year ago.
By MICHAEL SANDLER
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 25, 2000
TAMPA -- The victim of a Christmas robbery last year, restaurant owner Danny Jones decided this season to carry a weapon.
His .44-caliber pistol was tucked in his waistband late Saturday when two men stormed into the Hungry Howie's in Town 'N Country.
The men flashed a semiautomatic handgun, then threatened to shoot two employees, authorities said.
Moments later, Jones pulled out his pistol and opened fire on the two intruders, who fled from the restaurant.
"The driver looked like he was pulling out a shotgun or a rifle, (so) I just pointed and shot at the car," Jones said.
Authorities said the driver, identified as Christopher Brookhouser, took the injured men to Town 'N Country Hospital.
One of them, identified as 19-year-old Aaron Baker, later was transferred to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he underwent surgery. He remained in stable condition Sunday night and has been charged with armed robbery. The second injured man, identified as 21-year-old Joseph Mumaw, remained in stable condition Sunday at Town 'N Country Hospital. His exact injuries were not revealed. He too was charged with armed robbery.
Brookhouser, 24, was arrested at the apartment the three men share at 10802 Hillsborough Ave. He was charged with armed robbery and grand theft because he was driving a stolen Buick. He is being held without bail at Hillsborough County Jail.
"It always happens at Christmas," said Jones, who was robbed last year at about the same time. He now carries a weapon from Thanksgiving until Christmas. "I guess people need more money then."
Jones said the trouble started about 11:05 p.m. Saturday, when a white 1991 Buick Regal circled the shopping center off Hillsborough Avenue before parking sideways in front of the pizza delivery shop.
Two 23-year-old employees were outside smoking cigarettes when two men got out of the car with jackets covering their faces, he said. "At first, I thought they were their friends goofing off," said Jones. "It took about 30 seconds to see this was real."
The two employees tried to run inside, but the men grabbed them by their necks, pushed them inside and forced them to the floor at gunpoint, Jones said.
"I told them to take the damn cash register and leave," said Jones, who was in the kitchen and saw one man pointing a small black handgun down at the floor. "He kept saying, "Get up here and give me the money, or somebody is going to get hurt.' "
Jones decided to act.
He fired several shots, blowing out the front window of his store. When the men ran, he fired at the car. Then he checked on his workers and called 911.
"I knew I was nervous," he said. "I can't believe I hit that guy."
State crime records show both Mumaw and Baker have previous arrests for charges ranging from burglary to weapons violations. The disposition of those cases could not be determined late Sunday. Brookhouser, according to records, had no previous arrests.
- Michael Sandler can be reached at (813) 226-3472 or sandler@sptimes.com.