Cypress resident sued over shooting, robbery

A Harris County man is suing after he was shot in the back, while buying drinks at a Katy-area gas station.

Peter Thormahlen and his minor child filed a lawsuit on Sept. 8 in the Harris County District Court against JC Shell Inc., Citgo Petroleum, and Cypress resident Yeun Lee, citing negligence.

Thormahlen says that on Thanksgiving night in 2009, he was shot in the back while purchasing a drink for his small daughter at Lee’s Citgo in Katy, now known as JC Shell. According to the brief, as Thormahlen attempted to pay for his drinks, a man brandishing a gun demanded his wallet, but as he reached for it, the armed man and a Citgo employee started shooting at each other.

Thormahlen, caught in the crossfire, was shot in the back and fell to the ground. He has undergone multiple surgeries and has lost a kidney and his spleen.

The suit alleges police who investigated the shooting found a number of guns on the premises owned by Citgo employee or its operator.  

Thormahlen is actual and exemplary damages, as well as court costs. He is being represented in the case by Houston attorney Hal Hale.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2011-53656.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.