A father killed a man who threatened to shoot his children Wednesday night inside a Popeye's restaurant in San Antonio, KABB-TVreported.

A masked gunman walked into the fast-food restaurant, confronted the family as they were eating and tried to rob them, the station reported.

The father asked if he would let them go as the gunman turned toward the counter and told the manager to stop running, KABB-TV reported.

The man pointed the gun at the children and the father pulled out his gun and shot the man several times, KENS-TV reported.

Employees locked down the restaurant until police arrived.

The father is a licensed handgun owner and police believe he shot in defense of others.

The name of the robbery suspect has not been released.