'The next thing you know, a gunshot just popped off': Customers take down sushi restaurant shooter

The spur-of-the-moment actions of customers at a River Oaks adjacent sushi restaurant last night (March 14) prevented a suspected shooter from committing any bloodshed.

According to authorities, a 24-year-old man discharged a firearm inside Ra Sushi at 3908 Westheimer at 11:30 p.m., causing panic inside the eatery, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported. 

However, some quick-thinking customers, including a mixed martial arts fighter from Dallas, managed to stop the suspect before he struck anyone, police said.

One of the heroic customers was Patrick Robinson.

Robinson and a group of friends were eating when the incident occurred, KPRC reported. 

He and one of his friends rushed the suspect, whom police identified as Jesus Edray Cardiel Samaniego, according to the station.

A third customer helped Robinson and his friend hold Samaniego.

"We were eating, and the next thing you know, a gunshot just popped off," Robinson, who was in town for his friend's upcoming show, told KPRC. "So everything paused and then everybody started running to get down under a table."

Authorities said at least 50 people were in the eatery; however, no injuries were reported.

Robinson said he didn't think that he and his friend had to employ their MMA training outside of the ring.

"You see it on the news, or you see it on TV or the movies and stuff, but you never see it actually in life, and it is crazy that nobody got hurt," he told Houston ABC affiliate KTRK.

According to police, Samaniego had an arrest warrant for failing to appear in court to answer for criminal mischief.

He allegedly carried narcotics on his person when he attempted to open fire at Ra Sushi.

Samaniego been charged with a pair of firearm offenses.

KPRC reported that the Mexican national has a criminal history that dates back to 2016.