An armed robber lost the upper hand early Wednesday morning with the roommates he was holding at gunpoint in the Madison Park Apartment Homes in southwest Houston.

Instead of remaining willing victims, one resident got his own gun to level the playing field.

Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department said the victim and his two roommates were at their apartment when the suspect forced his way inside as one of the residents was arriving home and unlocking the door to go into the unit.

The suspect held the men at gunpoint and tried to rob them.

That’s when one of the residents grabbed his own gun in self defense.

Shots were exchanged between the two and the suspect fled the scene.

One of the roommates suffered a gunshot wound and was loaded into a vehicle in an attempt to get him to the nearest hospital, however the driver pulled over and called Houston Fire Department. Paramedics arrived on scene and rushed him to the hospital. His injuries and condition have not been released.

Police said the suspect may or may not have been hit, and Lt. Crowson said the victims described the armed robber as a black male.