RE: Houston Poker Room Gun Battle More details, some questions, progression of violence
The story behind an underground game in Houston that broke with a flurry of bullets last week — resulting in one fatality and two others wounded — is starting to emerge. Filtering through braggadocio, legal ambiguities, and the inherent fuzziness of thirdhand sources, here’s what we definitely know, what we are hearing, and then some speculation about an “inside job”. And what this robbery may or may not have to do with similar ones in Houston, Dallas, Arlington, and San Antonio.
Included is a semi-thorough timeline tracking the progression of violent poker robberies across Texas over the past 2+ years. The casualty tally so far: 2 dead, 4 wounded by non-fatal gunfire, at least 1 pistol-whipping, >150 players in the middle of it all (surrendering anywhere from a few hundred to more than $10,000 at a time). 3 arrested so far.
The game currently being talked about was known as Club 203, located in a southwest Houston semi-industrial warehouse complex, nestled in a nook about a quarter-mile from the intersection of a highway and major thoroughfare.
The dead robber’s name is Barron Glenn Boutte. (Anyone recognize the name?) He was a 24-year-old black male. The official cause of death is homicide/multiple gun shot wounds. It’s not clear where Barron was from, though one mention of him on the internet does suggest Houston.
From the Houston Police Department:
Houston police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man at 5645 Hillcroft #203 about 1:45 a.m. on Thursday (Sept. 3).
The victim, 24, suffered a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity is pending notification to family members by the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office.
HPD Homicide Division Sergeant E. Cisneros reported:
Patrol officers responded to a shooting-in-progress call and found the victim had been shot to death by unknown suspects inside of a business. Further investigation and witness statements determined the victim had been involved in a robbery of persons inside the location when he was shot.
The suspects are described only as three black males.
Anyone with information on this case or on the identities of the wanted
suspects is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600
or Crimes Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
So how did it all start? And what happened from there?
Deadly Re-Raise
Supposedly a 5-5 game. One table going. Fairly well-lit parking lot but no additional security.
One source says the robbers just barged in through the front door as a player was leaving the game. Another says the bad guys had trouble getting in and shot the lock to gain entry. The masked intruders then reportedly fired multiple shots in the air (not confirmed) and told everyone to get down on the ground before corralling patrons into a back “break room”. One dealer supposedly was not moving fast enough, at which point one assailant shot him in the leg. (Others say he wasn’t shot until the multi-way barrage of gunfire erupted.)
Players were also supposedly taken out of the break room individually, presumably to be fleeced, and at some point in the process were ordered to remove their clothes. This is when the player carrying his own 9mm began firing — 11 shots from about six feet away, five or six of which hit Barron Boutte and killed him. The gunslinging player also shot twice at one of the other robbers, and claims to have hit him as well, but he was still able to escape.
Police Call
When police arrived — not sure how many minutes later — not all the players had stuck around. The shooter is saying he left to chase down the other two robbers … though eventually he did show up at the police station with legal counsel (and presumably Concealed Handgun License) to answer questions. In Texas you are allowed to use deadly force to protect your property, and you can tell from the comments in the Houston Chronicle story how the supermajority believe this was indeed a heroic killing. Police supposedly let the man go and have no intent to file charges.
HPD Homicide also questioned the game runner, and called in HPD Vice to confiscate the tables, cards, chips, etc. No word on whether or not any money was left behind/confiscated … but no charges thus far against any players or room operators either.
Supposedly there had been a handful of poker “hijackings” in Houston in recent weeks … all with similar stories of three gun-wielding masked black males. Suspicion abounds about one player who supposedly had been at more than one of these games and left shortly before the gunmen arrived.
Similar Texas Poker Robberies
April 2007
Two unmasked black 20somethings attempt to rob a popular suburban card room in north Dallas with a pistol and a shotgun, but are stopped by players and room operators at a second security door.
Shortly thereafter, two unmasked black 20somethings succeed in robbing a Dallas 5/10 game in an industrial warehouse part of Dallas. Lots of speculation abounds about the possibility of it being an inside job by the game operator.
May 2007
Two weeks later, a lower stakes game in Dallas was robbed by three black males wearing masks (one of them orange). It took place about a half-mile away from a game at a VFW hall being raided at roughly the same time by police.
Click here to read the police report on this one.
July 2007
Three men armed with what players say are AK47s and a sawed-off shotgun rob a big Omaha game in Dallas. Shots fired, one player mildly injured.
February 2008
Three masked men break into a home in San Antonio where a $300 sit-n-go was going on. They fire two shots into the chest of a player who stood between a robber and a file cabinet where the $3,000 prize pool was being held. The player survives.
March 2008
The Ashton in Dallas — a very high-stakes game in an uptown high-rise — gets robbed (on a relatively low-stakes night) by two black males, one brandishing a 9mm. One of the players robbed in this game was also present in the April 2007 5/10 robbery, and says the robbers were the same two guys.
April 2008
Two armed, masked black males rob The Office in Dallas, a relatively new 15/30 Omaha and 2/5 NLH game, and make of with more than $25,000 worth of stolen cash and property. Dallas players continue talk about the possibility of an insider being in the game to tip off the assailants and debate the merits of shooting back at robbers.
August 2008
Four masked armed robbers succeed in robbing the biggest 1/2 game in Dallas — the same room where an unsuccessful robbery was thwarted by game runners in April 2007.
September 2008
The Dallas underground experiences its first homicide when two masked men attempt to rob an apartment game in Arlington — shots are fired when one player attempts to blockade the door, hitting him three times. “John” dies at the hospital shortly thereafter from internal bleeding. [Ed note: apologies for not following up on this.] On the day of the deadly shooting, APD reportedly were raiding another game in Arlington — but it was an off-day for the room and no one was there.
October 2008
A Cedar Hill home that had been the site of a high-stakes Asian game gets robbed on a night that a low-stakes surprise birthday tourney is going on. Robbers are two black males, fitting the descriptions of assailants in similar robberies — tall skinny guy wearing an orange ski mask, shorter guy wearing a “Scream” Halloween mask.
December 2008
Two black males wearing masks and hoodies rob players and room operators outside a near-legendary game in northeast Dallas, shortly after a schism between two owners over the need to spend money on additional security.
Two rooms in Houston are reportedly robbed by two black males wearing masks and hoodies that same week.
April 2009
And another one in San Antonio earlier this year, where three black males (two of them masked) fled the scene of a robbery only to be nabbed by the SAPD, who were waiting for them outside, successfully responding to a player who dialed 911 and left the line open during the robbery.
August 2009
Unconfirmed reports of poker room robberies in and around Houston …
September 2009
Gun battle at Club 203. Poker players rejoice over “winning one” by killing would-be poker robber Barron Glenn Boutte — it remains to be seen if he had indeed struck before, and who all abetted and/or abandoned his final heist.
Ben Matlock says:
September 7th, 2009 at 8:36 am
nice job on the reporting.
DanM says:
September 7th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I had no idea just how many robberies there were until I went back through the archives.
I also think this is extra interesting considering the absolute explosion that has taken place in Oklahoma since this all began. (Next post should be on the grand opening of the new hotel at WinStar this weekend.)
traction says:
September 7th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
unrelated but another case or poker players getting robbed sans guns
http://www.allvegaspoker.com/news_detail_355.html
C Wolford says:
September 7th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Name
BOUTTE,BARRON GLENN License number
008968595 Address
7838 CHINON CIRCLE DOB
Jun 17 1985
Class
I City/Zip
HOUSTON 77071 Last transaction date
Apr 16 2008 Last transaction
Duplicate
Above information as provided by state – Our annotations are below
Address (click to find others)
7838 Chinon Cir City/State/Zip (click to find others)
Houston,TX 77071-3723
C Wolford says:
September 7th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Person ID No.
6076405 Gender
MALE Race
BLACK Ethnicity
UNKNOWN – CCH
Height
505 Weight (lbs.)
110 Eye Color
BROWN Hair Color
Name(s)
Name Entry ID No.
14584353 Full Name
BOUTTE,BARRON GLENN Last Name
BOUTTE First Name
BARRON GLENN
Type Code
Base Record Value
Birthdate(s)
DOB ID No.
6479874 Date of Birth
Jun 17 1985 Type Code
Base Record Value
Individual
Individual ID No.
6076405 DPS ID No.
06807085
TRN
TRN ID No.
15487789 Date of Arrest
Jun 20 2006 Sequence Code
A Tracking Incident Number
9037218644
Arresting Agency
METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY PD HOUSTON
TRS
TRS ID No.
18653684 TRS/TRN ID
A001
Offense Detail
Date of Offense
Jun 20 2006 Agency ID
TX1015700 Internal Agency Person Number
Arrest Offense (Numeric)
48010001
Action Related to Offense
none found Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Date of Disposition Immediate to Arrest
Jun 21 2006 Arrest Disposition
HELD
Prosecutor ORI Referred To
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE HOUSTON Arrest Offense Literal
TX1015700095725806W Arrest Disposition Literal
Agency Case Number
Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Arrested Charge
Offense Code
48010001 Offense Description
EVADING ARREST OR DETENTION Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
38.04(a)
Statute Code
PC
Prosecution
Agency
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE HOUSTON Prosecutor Action Filed
PROSECUTOR ACCEPTS THE CHARGE Prosecutor Offense Code
48010001 Date of Activity by Prosecutor
Level and Degree of Prosecuted Offense
MB Title of Offense Prosecuted
Action Related to Offense
none found Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Prosecution ID
5925461 TRS ID
18653684
Prosecutor Charged
Offense Code
48010001 Offense Description
EVADING ARREST OR DETENTION Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
38.04(a)
Statute Code
PC
Court Status
Court Sequence
a Agency
COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW NUMBER 10 HOUSTON Court Offense
48010001 Court Disposition
CONVICTED
Court Offense Literal
Action Related to Offense
none found Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Cause Number
138459101010
Date of Sentencing
Jun 22 2006 Final Pleading
GUILTY Court Provision Literal
Court Provision (Numeric)
Court Provision (Decoded)
none found Date of Judicial Disposition
Jun 22 2006 Amount of Time Suspended by Court
Amount of Fine Suspended by Court
Court Confinement
25D Time on Probation
Court Fine
Court Cost Imposed
214
Date of Appeal
Disposition of Offender During Appeal
none found Final Court Decision
none found Agency ID
TX1010000
Agency Literal
HARRIS CO SO HOUSTON Sentence Concurrent/Consecutive
CONCURRENT Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Court Charge Reason
Offense Code
48010001 Offense Description
EVADING ARREST OR DETENTION Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
38.04(a)
Statute Code
PC
Court Provisions
none found
TRN ID No.
12966634 Date of Arrest
Sep 24 2003 Sequence Code
A Tracking Incident Number
9034291588
Arresting Agency
PD HOUSTON
TRS
TRS ID No.
15393801 TRS/TRN ID
A001
Offense Detail
Date of Offense
Sep 24 2003 Agency ID
Internal Agency Person Number
Arrest Offense (Numeric)
48010001
Action Related to Offense
none found Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Date of Disposition Immediate to Arrest
Sep 25 2003 Arrest Disposition
HELD
Prosecutor ORI Referred To
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE HOUSTON Arrest Offense Literal
TXHPD0000134668703U Arrest Disposition Literal
Agency Case Number
Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Arrested Charge
Offense Code
48010001 Offense Description
EVADING ARREST OR DETENTION Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
38.04(a)
Statute Code
PC
Prosecution
Agency
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE HOUSTON Prosecutor Action Filed
PROSECUTOR ACCEPTS THE CHARGE Prosecutor Offense Code
48010001 Date of Activity by Prosecutor
Level and Degree of Prosecuted Offense
MB Title of Offense Prosecuted
Action Related to Offense
none found Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Prosecution ID
4210304 TRS ID
15393801
Prosecutor Charged
Offense Code
48010001 Offense Description
EVADING ARREST OR DETENTION Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
38.04(a)
Statute Code
PC
Court Status
Court Sequence
a Agency
COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT 14 HOUSTON Court Offense
48010001 Court Disposition
CONVICTED
Court Offense Literal
Action Related to Offense
none found Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Cause Number
119575101010
Date of Sentencing
Sep 26 2003 Final Pleading
GUILTY Court Provision Literal
Court Provision (Numeric)
Court Provision (Decoded)
none found Date of Judicial Disposition
Sep 26 2003 Amount of Time Suspended by Court
Amount of Fine Suspended by Court
Court Confinement
10D Time on Probation
Court Fine
Court Cost Imposed
201
Date of Appeal
Disposition of Offender During Appeal
none found Final Court Decision
none found Agency ID
TX1010000
Agency Literal
HARRIS CO SO HOUSTON Sentence Concurrent/Consecutive
CONCURRENT Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Court Charge Reason
Offense Code
48010001 Offense Description
EVADING ARREST OR DETENTION Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
38.04(a)
Statute Code
PC
Court Provisions
none found
TRN ID No.
12966633 Date of Arrest
Dec 12 2002 Sequence Code
A Tracking Incident Number
9033536722
Arresting Agency
HOUSTON IND SCHOOL DIST PD HOUSTON
TRS
TRS ID No.
15393800 TRS/TRN ID
A001
Offense Detail
Date of Offense
Dec 12 2002 Agency ID
Internal Agency Person Number
Arrest Offense (Numeric)
35620008
Action Related to Offense
none found Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Date of Disposition Immediate to Arrest
Dec 13 2002 Arrest Disposition
HELD
Prosecutor ORI Referred To
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE HOUSTON Arrest Offense Literal
TX1013500177242402G Arrest Disposition Literal
Agency Case Number
Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Arrested Charge
Offense Code
35620008 Offense Description
POSS MARIJ < 2OZ Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
481.121(b)(1)
Statute Code
HSC
Prosecution
Agency
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE HOUSTON Prosecutor Action Filed
PROSECUTOR ACCEPTS THE CHARGE Prosecutor Offense Code
35620008 Date of Activity by Prosecutor
Level and Degree of Prosecuted Offense
MB Title of Offense Prosecuted
Action Related to Offense
none found Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Prosecution ID
4210303 TRS ID
15393800
Prosecutor Charged
Offense Code
35620008 Offense Description
POSS MARIJ < 2OZ Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
481.121(b)(1)
Statute Code
HSC
Court Status
Court Sequence
a Agency
COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW NO 3 HOUSTON Court Offense
35620008 Court Disposition
CONVICTED
Court Offense Literal
Action Related to Offense
none found Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Cause Number
114872101010
Date of Sentencing
Dec 27 2002 Final Pleading
GUILTY Court Provision Literal
Court Provision (Numeric)
Court Provision (Decoded)
none found Date of Judicial Disposition
Dec 27 2002 Amount of Time Suspended by Court
Amount of Fine Suspended by Court
Court Confinement
6D Time on Probation
Court Fine
Court Cost Imposed
211
Date of Appeal
Disposition of Offender During Appeal
none found Final Court Decision
none found Agency ID
TX1010000
Agency Literal
HARRIS CO SO HOUSTON Sentence Concurrent/Consecutive
CONCURRENT Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Court Charge Reason
Offense Code
35620008 Offense Description
POSS MARIJ < 2OZ Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
481.121(b)(1)
Statute Code
HSC
Court Provisions
none found
TRN ID No.
12966635 Date of Arrest
Jan 15 2004 Sequence Code
A Tracking Incident Number
9034587614
Arresting Agency
HOUSTON IND SCHOOL DIST PD HOUSTON
TRS
TRS ID No.
15393802 TRS/TRN ID
A001
Offense Detail
none found
Prosecution
Agency
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE HOUSTON Prosecutor Action Filed
PROSECUTOR ACCEPTS THE CHARGE Prosecutor Offense Code
35620008 Date of Activity by Prosecutor
Level and Degree of Prosecuted Offense
MB Title of Offense Prosecuted
Action Related to Offense
none found Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Prosecution ID
4210305 TRS ID
15393802
Prosecutor Charged
Offense Code
35620008 Offense Description
POSS MARIJ < 2OZ Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
481.121(b)(1)
Statute Code
HSC
Court Status
Court Sequence
a Agency
COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT 14 HOUSTON Court Offense
35620008 Court Disposition
CONVICTED
Court Offense Literal
Action Related to Offense
none found Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Cause Number
121430401010
Date of Sentencing
Jan 21 2004 Final Pleading
GUILTY Court Provision Literal
Court Provision (Numeric)
Court Provision (Decoded)
none found Date of Judicial Disposition
Jan 21 2004 Amount of Time Suspended by Court
Amount of Fine Suspended by Court
Court Confinement
30D Time on Probation
Court Fine
Court Cost Imposed
201
Date of Appeal
Disposition of Offender During Appeal
none found Final Court Decision
none found Agency ID
TX1010000
Agency Literal
HARRIS CO SO HOUSTON Sentence Concurrent/Consecutive
CONCURRENT Domestic Violence Involved
none found
Court Charge Reason
Offense Code
35620008 Offense Description
POSS MARIJ < 2OZ Level and Degree of Offense
MISDEMEANOR – CLASS B Statute Citation of Disposed Offense
481.121(b)(1)
Statute Code
HSC
C Wolford says:
September 7th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
His criminal record includes poss of marij, evading arrest all out of Harris County
DanM says:
September 7th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Thanks Mrs. Wolford. I’ll be honest, I expected the guy to be from Dallas … figuring the Dallas Poker Bandits had moved their operation to another city. But less likely now.
C Wolford says:
September 7th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
all that means is, that is where he gets his DL mailed to, so anything is possible.
DanM says:
September 7th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I posted his criminal record here:
http://pokerati.com/2009/09/07/re-houston-poker-room-gun-battle-2-attempted-robbers-criminal-record/
Mike says:
September 8th, 2009 at 5:53 am
I am a liberal and I live in the Houston area and partipate in a cash game held at a local illegal card room as well as sveral home games. Although I personally don’t own a handgun and probably never will, I respect the right for all Americans to legally own guns and would never advocate or vote for any legisaltion to take that right away. In this case I think the robber/s got what they deserved. I know guys who carry handguns with them to the card room I go to and I know they aren’t afraid to use them in necessary. The robber/s in this case and in my mind are idiots for not realizing. May they RIP!!!
lavigneinaustin says:
September 9th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
nice job with this, dan. there have also been several incidents in austin recently. not as violent, but unsafe just the same.
The good news is that I believe we are incredibly close to getting a good, safe, regulated scene here in Texas.
john says:
September 14th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
i was held up at gun point by 3 masked black men in august at a card room run by a lady named stephanie. Chimneyrock and richmond in houston. They came in ordered everyone to the ground and told everyone to put their cash on the table. they were in and out in about 45seconds. Needless to say i wont be going to any illegal card rooms anytime soon. I wish there was a picture of this guy named baron to see if i reconize him.
Josh Stringer says:
September 15th, 2009 at 6:21 am
Wow. So glad I moved to Austin recently as this was one of my regular games.
Barron Boutte Family says:
January 17th, 2010 at 7:21 am
I just want to let all of you know that Barron was and still is LOVED by his ALL of his FAMILY and when his life was taken ALL of our lives were taken, especially the life of his precious daughter who turned 5 years old today. She is the split image of her father. Barron was named Father of the Year at his daughters Elementary School 2 years in a row and he NEVER missed a birthday or a holiday with his little girl. She still cries herself to sleep at night and there are no words that comfort her when she doesn’t understand why her dad cant drop her off at school anymore or why the kids at school tease her about her daddy being dead when they get mad at her. She doesn’t understand why daddy IS HERE at her birthday party but she cant hear,touch or see him. Barron may have been just another robber or criminal to some of you but he was FAMILY to us. And to the person who posted all of his personal history and his criminal history on here for everyone to see, I don’t know what you were trying to PROVE but i’m kinda glad that you did it because among all of the things he may have done or been in his past….BARRON GLENN BOUTTE WAS NEVER A MURDERER therefore HE STILL GOT HIS WINGS IN HEAVEN.
Tom Schneider says:
January 17th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Glad to know that robbers are getting wings these days. The young lady has only her father to blame for not being there anymore.
Actions have consequences; the final lesson that her father has taught her.
Umbro England says:
January 18th, 2010 at 6:17 am
@tom I totally agree – she need her father nd he wasn’t there. You can’t blame her for that
slickhowie says:
January 22nd, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Listen, the Barron family has a point. The man is dead. Think about if a family member of yours was doing something wrong and they get killed. Maybe they got what they deserved. The thing is, you lost a family member, and then have to see people bashing them – fine. But to post the mans record after he is dead – whats the point? Are you trying to convince people he was a bad guy? He’s already been sentenced. Poor taste sir.