Houston-area Cracker Barrel manager killed while attempting to stop robbery identified by family

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A Houston-area Cracker Barrel manager who fatally shot Saturday morning during an attempted robbery, has been identified by her family.

Robin Baucom, 59, had been working at the restaurant for 34 years, Robin’s sister Gail told KSAT’s sister station, KPRC.

“She is our hero and we hope she will be remembered as a hero because she lost her life trying to protect her employees and Cracker Barrel. She was always taking care of business wherever she was needed,” Gail told KPRC.

Cracker Barrel also released the following statement to KPRC regarding Baucom’s death.

“We can confirm that there was a criminal shooting at our Houston store on North Freeway prior to opening this morning which resulted in our store’s associate manager sustaining fatal injuries as she protected other employees from harm. All of Cracker Barrel is solely focused on supporting our manager’s family, her fellow employees, and local law enforcement as we grapple with this tragedy and grieve.”

The shooting happened in the 14700 block of North Freeway near Airtex Drive around 6:15 a.m.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a female employee had just arrived at the restaurant when two men in a metallic gray-colored Dodge Charger pulled up.

Deputies said a man on the passenger side of the car asked the employee about store hours as the woman was ringing the doorbell to be let inside. He then got out of the car and attempted to steal her purse.

Baucom opened the door to let the employee inside and blocked the entryway as the man tried to force his way into the restaurant, authorities said. He pulled out a gun and shot Baucom in her torso.

She was taken to an area hospital where she later died, Sheriff Gonzalez said.

The man and the driver of the Dodge Charger fled the scene.

Gonzalez shared pictures of the possible suspect and vehicle on social media. He asks that anyone with information contact the HCSO Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-22-8477.