Cops: Good guys with guns subdue knife-wielding suspect

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  The Marble Falls Verizon Store was closed for the day after a report of a man who allegedly threatened staff with a knife. Contributed photo

  The Marble Falls Verizon Store was closed for the day after a report of a man who allegedly threatened staff with a knife. Contributed photo
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  Jones

  Jones

Marble Falls Police Capt. James Cole told The Highlander

that a man remains in jail after threatening staff and then succumbing to armed customers at a cell phone retail store in Marble Falls.

The incident unfolded on July 23 at 1:53 p.m. at the Verizon Store, 2600 U.S. 281 North.

According to Marble Falls police, Charlie Porter Jones, Jr. 80, of Kingsland, entered the store and allegedly started threatening personnel.

“He never tried to buy anything. All he said was ‘I want in the back,’ ” Cole told The Highlander . "He flashed an empty holster and pulled the knife.”

Witnesses told police that he pulled what was believed to be a pocket knife from his pocket. “I gather from talking to the of ficers that it was a folding knife,” Cole said.

At that moment “… two armed citizens had witnessed the incident and then subdued the suspect.”

“These other customers were armed. They drew their pistols. Someone called the police,” Cole said. “Everybody was told to get out of the store once they drew their guns and held them on the bad guy.” Officers responded from MFPD as well as Granite Shoals Police Department and the Burnet County Sheriff's Office.

"The officers took their witness statement and Charlie Jones was transported to the jail," Cole added. "(The sus - pect) refused to speak with us ... his right to

remain silent.”

As of July 25, Jones remained in the Bur- net County Jail on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one charge of terroristic threat. He was being held on surety bonds. The aggravated assault bonds are list- ed as $50,000 each; the threat bond is $10,000.

Verizon employees shut down the store for the rest of the day, following the incident.