Dallas Homeowner Explains Why He Opened Fire on Tire Thieves

Authors Current Events Defensive Use of Firearms Rapid Fire S.H. Blannelberry This Week

From Fox 4 News:

DALLAS – Police say a Dallas homeowner shot at two men he caught stealing from him.

It happened around 3 a.m. in the 4000 block of Old Glory Drive, which is in the Red Bird area.

The homeowner said he heard his dog barking. He looked outside to find two men removing the wheels on his pickup truck.

As he approached them, the homeowner said they held up something that looked a weapon. That’s when he fired shots.

The suspects jumped into an SUV, but hit a parked car as they tried to drive away. They ended up getting away on foot.

Police believe at least one of the suspects was wounded. They said a man did show up at a local hospital with a gunshot wound and they are working to determine if he is connected.

***

Interesting case. The homeowner could have just called the police and waited for them to arrive as opposed to opting to confront the suspects. Arguably, that would have been the safer option. Guard the home front, ensure the safety of the family and forget about the tires.

Instead though, he went out to investigate. As a concealed carry permit holder, he naturally brought his firearm. I guess in that situation, in the middle of the night, when two crooks are stealing his property, one can argue that he was completely justified in opening fire regardless of whether the men were armed. Well, put it this way, even if they weren’t armed, no Texas jury would convict him for shooting at them. They were in the wrong. They were the ones who made the stupid mistake of messing with a man’s truck.

Joking aside, what do you make of this man’s response to the situation? Would you have gone outside to investigate the situation or would you have waited inside and called the police?

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  • FOOLTHROTTLE January 29, 2017, 5:31 pm

    Years ago in Colorado I heard a story about a couple that lived in a rural area near one of the National parks, he and his wife were awakened at two in the morning one cold December night when a naked-nude guy started beating on their door, they looked down from their upstairs bedroom window and couldn’t believe their eyes, keep in mind in December it was maybe two degrees out, the guy beating on their door was so cold and hipothermic he was unable to speak, the couple armed themselves and carefully approached he was shaking to uncontrollably he was clearly no threat but just the same the kept a shotgun pointed at him. It turns out he had met a couple of chicks at a bar who suggested they drive up in the park and find a remote spot for some entertainment, after they helped him get undressed they asked him to step outside the car for a second while they got ready, I guess that sounded like a good idea to him, but when he did they locked the doors and drove away, probably really funny for about thirty seconds at which point he realized his delema, he was going to freeze to death sooner rather than later. There was only one light visible several miles away and he immediately started for it, when he arrived he only had minutes left, fortunately for him he didn’t arrive at the shoot first ask later house.

  • Robert August 28, 2016, 2:24 pm

    In the middle of the night in a small county in Oklahoma there are only 2 County deputies on duty at a time. Go ahead call them, I did, 3 and half hours later way past daylight one shows up. Lets the guy off that cut my fence and let out 40 head of black angus on a dark country road half a mile from a busy interstate. know the creep by first name basis, tells him to come back and fix the fence for punishment. Then has the balls to ask me to use my tractor to drag him out of a creek he nosed dived his pickup into cause he didn’t know the pasture. I told him to hire a tow truck.

    Next time on Christmas morning my barns were broken into, both 4 wheelers stolen. I asked them to fingerprint the door where I know he left a nice greasy print that wasn’t there when I locked up the night before. His statement was they arnt the FBI, they take reports after the fact that’s it. I gave they a copy of the titles to enter the stolen 4 wheelers in the nation wide database. 2 years later I find out they didn’t even do that. I told them who did it. He was on my property running a backhoe cleaning a pond for us. He made sure he know where I parked the atv. they didn’t even drive by his house, there was no proof. what about the finger prints?????????? I was right he was caught later with a semi full of stolen atvs. mine was long gone. YES CALL the cops after you do what you need to do to protect your family in your situation without armchair coaches telling you what you should have done. YOU know your situation not us. Robert

    • mike January 27, 2017, 3:05 pm

      you was to kind,id have a charge on me for shooting the guy that did that

      • mike January 27, 2017, 3:07 pm

        cops do nothing , you have to do it your self

  • Wayne Clemon January 19, 2016, 1:11 pm

    I think the sound of a large dog would probably resolve the situation

  • Wayne Clemon January 19, 2016, 12:10 pm

    if they’re in your house shoot them, if they’re outside and they’re only a threat to your property call the cops and then the insurance company. but I do believe in the heat of the moment I may have done the same thing, but frankly it’s not worth the legal nightmare and of course the perp will probably sue.

  • Bob Nelson September 27, 2015, 5:03 pm

    Gotta love Texas law concerning night theft. It’s perfectly legal to shoot and protect your property after sunset.

  • Don September 26, 2015, 7:03 pm

    Call who ???

  • Dan the other one September 23, 2015, 7:06 pm

    The the Theves had to get there in a vehicle. I’d target the engine unti I heard the garand go ping. If they can run off with a tire under each arm I
    Probably would ‘try to chase them down. If someone can hot foot it with a truck tire under each arm I probably would watch in awe.
    God: why did you kill that boy?
    Shooter: be was stealing my truck tires
    God: and you want into heaven?
    Shooter: Yes Sir
    God: OK you can take your tires and go to Hell !

  • Dan September 23, 2015, 12:39 am

    Sorry if there are repeats of this post but the G*Damned site does not always show you post immediately….I kept retrying

  • Dan September 23, 2015, 12:28 am

    Listen. I’m all for defending life and property. But in most states defending property with lethal force will get you arrested, charged, and jailed. Not right but it is what it is. Those of you who say “Man up…Grow some balls…enough is enough” haven’t been sitting on the wrong side of a grand jury full of do-gooder libs trying to balance the scale FOR the criminal turds they see as victims. If you want to take a stand (literally and figuratively) then enjoy your jail cell while the rest of the world goes on without you.
    Talk is cheap when you are not the one facing indictment for murder. (Even if you are in the right).

    OK…I said the legal crap I’ve seen happen to a righteous home owner…SO as a possible but not perfect solution…open a window (or door if needed) and rack a 12ga. Watch the turds run. If they advance…you have a loaded shotgun with your back to your home. Open fire and NOW you have a defense because you did not advance on them and your chances of a side ambush are greatly reduced.
    Even libs and people with absolutely no gun handling experience know what the sound of a 12ga being racked means. Even a warning shot into the ground or air will stop 99% of attackers… but remember you are responsible for every shot you fire. At least a load of buckshot is not likely (but possible) to hurt an innocent neighbor if fired into the air or ground. Its all situational but given the limited facts here…Rack it… then assess.

    • Roger June 1, 2018, 10:23 pm

      From what I understand, there is a Texas law which allows citizens to defend their property.

      It dates back to the days of the “Wild West“.
      Back when there were cowboys a man’s horse was his “life“. Horse thieves were prevalent and if someone stole the man’s horse he would very likely die.

      That law was written to justify the cowboy killing the horse thieves in order that he may live. The law has remained on the books ever since.

      It is probably THE ABSOLUTE best law in this country.

      The 49 other states would do well to xerox copy this law and pass it in their own state legislatures and demand the governor sign it into law.

      Crime rates would go down, PRECIPITOUSLY !

  • Monica September 22, 2015, 10:55 am

    The question should not be whether the homeowner believes tires and wheels are worth taking a life.
    The real question is do the thieves believe that the tires and wheels are worth risking their lives.

    • Txjack June 15, 2018, 8:54 am

      Very well said Monica! I can’t stand when people say property isn’t worth a criminals life. It is the criminal that is making the statement that the property is worth more than their life, not the victim. When someone sets out to commit crime then they are accepting whatever punishment befalls them and it’s in no way the responsibility of the victim to see that the punishment is proportional to the crime. Nope. You are gambling with your life when you CHOOSE a life of crime.

  • Stefan Smythe September 22, 2015, 6:06 am

    Here in the People’s Republic of Hawaii I have been the victim of property crime perhaps 20 times in the last few years. Mostly gasoline thieves.Three times I have walked outside before midnight and surprised criminals in the act. Car stereos stolen twice, license plates gone, locks drilled, glass windows stolen out of vans and gasoline thieves on a regular basis. I am armed to the teeth, but it never occurred to me to walk outside with a gun. All I have to do is show a gun and I’d go to jail. The crooks are protected and I’m not allowed to defend my property. Used to be hot about it, but by now, I have assimilated, After 35 years out here, you go along or get stomach cancer worrying about stuff. I’m just waiting for the economy to get so bad that the thieves turn to violent assault or home invasion. That’s a horse of a different color. The Castle Doctrine is in effect and I’m not required to retreat in my home or business.

  • WilliamDahl September 21, 2015, 10:15 pm

    Here in Texas, deadly force is authorized for even criminal mischief at night.

    New wheels and tires can easily cost $1500-2000 for a pickup these days. If someone tried to rob you of that amount of money, would you consider it worth using deadly force to defend yourself? If so, then why would it not also be a valid option for someone trying to steal your property that will cost you that much to replace?

    If my dogs bark, I always go out to investigate and I always have a gun in my hand while doing so.

    • MIKE January 27, 2017, 3:15 pm

      i love to set on my patio in the summer nights, it would take nothing for a thief to pop around the fence and rob me. it is going on more and more all the time. so i set with a .38 beside me just incase. gotta do what ya gotta do

  • Jim September 21, 2015, 9:55 pm

    This is the type of event where we love to approve vicariously of the brave homeowner and be glad that he wounded at least one of the thieves. But would we do the same? Depends. At my advanced age (80), I might not have got off the first shot if these a..h…. were actually armed. I keep my vehicles garaged. That way, if they break in I don’t have to be threatened when I shoot them–even if they’re looking for the way out!

  • eric September 21, 2015, 5:17 pm

    What would I do? … Exactly what the homeowner did … People wake up! … if we stand up to bullies … they’ll get the message … if you are on my property stealing from me – you made a bad choice – bad choices have consequences … I am so sick and tired of everybody having to be PC … A guy stealing my tires off my own truck .. in my drivewy has more rights than me the victim? …. What the Fragnog !!!!!!! …. Stop being a candy azz – grow a pair! … face the bullies … So tell me …. this advanced society has now advanced and come to this? ,,, is this the best we can really do? … I think not!

    • mike January 27, 2017, 3:09 pm

      stealing my tires and i catch ya nap time for you. same as breaking into my house. your GONNA BE TOAST

  • a.d. monday September 21, 2015, 4:06 pm

    There should be a bounty on criminals; kill them all and let god sort them out.

    • Eric September 21, 2015, 5:19 pm

      THANK YOU! … A. D. – you have the right concept. It is time we face bullies and take a stand against our property being stolen

      Good job A. D.

      Good job

  • Alan September 21, 2015, 3:52 pm

    And when the cops don’t show??? Not to mention they aren’t obligated, as determined by the USSC.
    Don’t get me wrong, mostly the cops show and it works, but one can’t absolutely count on it.
    I’ve lost quite a lot of money and property to thieves, not sure I would rely on the cops or not.

    • Wayne Clemon January 19, 2016, 12:16 pm

      if your worried about losing money check how many law suites have been won by thieves that have been shot while fleeing. even if they don’t win the suit it will cost you a fortune. if you have expensive stuff sitting outside you better make sure it’s insured.

  • Adam September 21, 2015, 3:51 pm

    I personal have had 2 different robberies where I stooped the robbery with the brandishing of a firearm. No shots fired. Both times the perpetrators stood there till I told them to go. This was in Colorado where there is the Make My Day Law. I had no interest in waiting for the police. I had the jump on these guys both times, it was my decision to kill or not to kill. I chose not to kill. Because in my unique and personal situation it seemed to be the best course of action.

    I was a witness to a shoot out, less then 50 yards away, I could hear 5 different distinct firearms being fired. It lasted a while, long enough for me to be on the phone with 911. I was locked and loaded and on the floor fearing for my life and the lives of my loved ones.
    911 asked me to look out the window and tell them what was going on!!!! I refused! I was scared… real scared.
    I was ready to Kill or Die trying! Instinct took over my brain, parts of my brain shut down and other parts where highly enlightened.

    I thought only psychopath police dream of killing. They don’t care whether your armed or not any reason is good enough, sometimes no reason.
    Reading these opinions that I read hear today, some of you see yourselves as psychopath killers.

    In conclusion, If the bad people know that they could go to jail or worse be killed and they do it anyway. Then it is disrespectful to them not to respect their decision.
    The home owner showed them, respect by shooting at them and possibly hitting one.
    I did not! I have to live with myself! He made the right decision.

  • Bob September 21, 2015, 2:20 pm

    Are a set of tires and wheels worth your life?
    I am not addressing the home owner.
    I am addressing the thugs betting their life that they could steal them and get away.
    I would have preferred going out with a shot gun. But armed is armed.
    In my life, a set of tires and rimes would have caused missed rent payment (food, kids clothes, of anything else I provide my family legally) and/or loss job due to not making it to work.

  • Joezilla September 21, 2015, 12:32 pm

    I would have done exactly what this Texas homeowner did. The Red Bird area of DFW is a bad area, high crime rate area. It is so bad that the local Red Bird Mall closed due to being swamped by bunches of teenagers crowding into stores and stealing all they could get their hands on. Intimidation of patrons was normal if anyone said anything. That whole Duncanville/Desoto area is a cesspool now. The police response time would have been at least 30 minutes.

  • Johnny B Goode September 21, 2015, 11:29 am

    I would like to think that I would call the police and wait for the cavalry to arrive. Depending on the circumstances I would call the police and wait. But I really like my old truck. If I saw someone damaging my truck I would probably be out in the yard with my shotgun before thinking things through. Moreover, I would want a person/s who thought they had a right to take parts off my truck in jail. The only way I could be certain the thief would be jailed is if I held him until the police arrived.

  • Jeff September 21, 2015, 10:10 am

    Turn on the flood lights, call dispatch and play it by ear. They leave in haste sans tires is a acceptable outcome. They attack, having been caught – it is a different outcome. The rural vs. urban comment(s) above are quite relative. Unless by freak coincidence LE was near in my rural area, 30 minutes would be a minimum response time. It is not worth the grief following a shooting over a set of tires, nor defensible in CA as a “personal threat, bodily harm …”

    Flood lights and a shot, with the phone or a camera. That IF they attack alters the game-plan.

  • Joe C. September 21, 2015, 10:05 am

    Confronted with an armed individual on your own property who’s in the act of committing a crime definitely gives this person justification for his use of force. Also, I believe Texas still allows the use of force in defense of property. So, even without the element of the perp being armed he may have been legally covered under the penal code. However, the civil side is a whole ‘nother animal. The easiest of legal processes is definitely going to cost you more than a set of tires let alone if you get sued civily. Suck as it may, the more prudent (and cheapest) course of action would be to retreat to cover, call the cops and defend the house and family. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

  • Ed Sunderland September 21, 2015, 9:43 am

    In Texas, it is legal to shoot those caught stealing from vehicles on your property.
    Texas penal code contains an unusual provision that grants citizens the right to use deadly force to prevent someone “who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property.”

    • Dale H September 21, 2015, 11:28 am

      I agree with Bryan, but also see some other things I would have done different. I would not have just went out the door and confronted the jerks without checking the surrounding as much as possible. it doesn’t mention if he had turned any lights on, depending on the surroundings, I would have made sure I was not open to attack from another person(s). I also would not have left the family inside unarmed just in case and I would have locked the door behind me. Depending on where he lives I would have dialed 911 first then went out, if like someone else said about rural area or away from the city where police response is slow then I would have done the same. I also would have went out the backdoor instead of front door and surprised them. By doing this you can survey to see if they are more else where in the yard. Once the jerk made a move where I was in fear of my life then shoot to kill is priority. by having someone inside at the door also provides someone able to call 911 and tell them if I was injured or shot rather than laying there to die. No one has mentioned here, but different states have different laws about shooting a thief, and I wonder, maybe where he lives is like Texas. I do agree with the fact that criminals have too much protection under the law, if your going to do illegal things then you should suffer the results.

      • Bryan J. September 21, 2015, 12:56 pm

        Dale — Those are all great tactical points; you obviously think these situations through. On the matter of the decision whether or not to leave the house to confront thieves stealing the damned wheels off your car right in front your house, I’ll be *danged* if I’m going to cower in my house while that happens. (I know you agree with me on that point, that’s just for the other fellows reading/writing on this thread).

        Came up with an alternative lawn sign, along the line of those safety signs you see at factories: “Number of thieves shot this year: 2. We place safety first!”

  • Bill September 21, 2015, 9:13 am

    I would have approached them nonchalant and told them they have about a minute left before police show up, if they threatened me at that point, bang bang

  • Pitt2500 September 21, 2015, 9:12 am

    In Texas, “theft under the cover of darkness” allows the use of deadly force.
    Goes back to cattle rusting days where you didn’t have to chase ’em down.
    Just shoot ’em out of their saddles.
    Other thing that people in Texas do not realize is that a property owner has the same right of deadly force for Criminal Mischief under the cover of darkness.
    Would not shoot a person Toilet Papering my house but someone legally could…..
    ONLY in Texas!

  • Abner T September 21, 2015, 8:17 am

    I note a lot of people here confusing ‘legal’ with ‘just’.

    Yes, he’s perfectly justified with defending his safety and property.

    Yes, he potentially opens himself up to legal actions, and both civil and statutory expenses which can run into the tens of thousands of dollars by doing just that.

    It’s a sad commentary on what America’s turned into, when you forego a set of truck tires to avoid the second scenario… but it’s the reality of life in a lot of America right now. Instead of asking the sh&theads “Do you feel lucky, punk?”, he should have been asking himself “Will all the legal hassles be worth two tires?”…

  • Robert September 21, 2015, 8:11 am

    In Texas it is legal to use deadly force to protect property after dark. Incidents like this while uncommon do happen.

    • Wayne Clemon January 19, 2016, 1:07 pm

      legal or not your still likely to be sued!

  • Bryan J. September 21, 2015, 7:58 am

    There are three separate issues here:

    1) Theft is unacceptable. There should be zero tolerance for theft, so the homeowner was in the right to confront the thieves. The fact that it was happening at night and right in front of his house implied that the thieves were not only bold, but could easily have raised the ante very quickly (“Well, that was easy. Want to see what this dude’s got in his house?”)

    2) The story doesn’t make clear how long law enforcement response would have taken. Since I live in a very rural area (at *least* a half hour before the sheriff can get to my part of the county), I have to assume that it’s on me to take care of potential problems. Maybe folks in more urban areas get faster response, but from what I’ve been reading lately, that’s not necessarily true.

    3) The thieves raised the stakes by making any threatening move towards the homeowner. If they didn’t want to get shot, they should have backed off and run away as soon as the guy came out of the house. After all, from what the story states, the homeowner didn’t rush out there and start shooting immediately — he gave them a chance to back off.

    So, on the face of it, it may look like an over-reaction by the homeowner, but these things are rarely cut-and-dried. At least the homeowner has gotten the reputation for not taking any crap from would-be thieves. Maybe he should put up a sign on his front yard: “Yeah, I’m *that* guy.”

  • dj kennedy September 21, 2015, 7:42 am

    they had a tire iron –jack handle -who knows what else ?????? high on crack
    watch them roll your tires away –rummage thru your truck –rip out the radio -go thru glove compartment
    911 wait for ??????????? how long
    how about ask they if they are hungry
    and would like to come in for bible study !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    pet my pit bull

  • RetNavet September 21, 2015, 6:26 am

    A large animal capture net gun and a baseball bat would be a great deal of fun….pull the wings off of the trapped fly (thief) while you try to remember is it..119, 199, 991, or 911 you are supposed to dial?

  • Daily Realist September 21, 2015, 5:51 am

    We have a Natural right to protect our selves, property, family, livestock / pets. Come on to my property and be bad. You will be confronted and in most cases probably get shot, in very early time.
    Simple. Do not be doing what and where you should not.

  • Rob62 September 21, 2015, 3:40 am

    I understand why he did what he did. But I do not believe it was a wise decision. With laws being what they are I would have stayed inside and called the police. Having to shoot someone, and the outcome of that, even if totally justified in doing so, is not worth a few tires. Always think about civil liabilities if not the criminal ones. Juries, even in Texas do not always rule the way you think they might of should.

  • jack September 21, 2015, 3:23 am

    Sad group here, why not step outside of YOUR OWN HOME if bad men are doing bad things on your property. Nothing says you have to shoot anyone unless they are starting the fight to you and or yours. If they leave on your arrival game won. If, they start to attack the key word is THEY more than one, and if and what they may be armed with if anything. A tire iron is a very deadly weapon if it hits your head.
    If your not afraid of your fellow man go out and tell them to leave as the police are enroute. If the baddies persist and start the attack nothing says you have to give ground at that point.

    • Trip3 September 21, 2015, 5:52 pm

      I agree with you Jack. You don’t have to shoot unless you’re forced to. But maybe you can hold them until the Police arrive. The only real problem is, what to do when the Police do arrive. There was an old gentleman a couple of years ago in the Dallas area, who went outside with his pistol to investigate flash lights around his property. Turns out the Police were looking for a possible break in, but were actually at the wrong address. Long story short, the old man was shot to death in his own driveway, because he wouldn’t obey the officers orders.

  • Chick September 21, 2015, 3:02 am

    The man was totally justified in protecting his property. I would have done the same thing. By the time the police got their, the tires would be gone, and the man left to pay the deductible plus spend half a day buying new tires.

  • Mark September 20, 2015, 12:04 pm

    why go outside when you can just poke a rifle against your window’ screen and shoot them from the comfort of an air conditioned house. Tire thieves, horse thieves, car thieves – any thief that interferes with a mans ability to feed his children should be shot on sight!

  • me September 17, 2015, 11:50 am

    Isn’t it legal in texas to shoot someone over your property? You can’t in Florida but I think you can in texas. #2A

  • Chris September 16, 2015, 5:59 pm

    I understand what he did, but it was a bad call. He should have stayed inside, called the police and then opened up a window and shouted at them that the police were on the way while he shined a flashlight on them the whole time. Hopefully that might have deterred them, but if it didn’t and they kept on then they are probably the type of guys that don’t get unnerved easily and maybe not the best to approach by yourself. There also could have been a third person acting as a lookout that he might not have seen. The important point to note is that if he had killed someone then it might be hard to argue that it was unavoidable in his defense and even if they didn’t convict, there is the fact of the legal fees and then the chance that the perps family (victims family in their eyes and that of the liberal left) could sue him in civil court. The aftermath is always worse than the initial event. Last but not least there is the fact that he would have to live with the fact that he took someone else’s life. You may sit there and say they deserved it or had it coming, but that doesn’t take away the reality of the severity of the situation when it comes to real life and the taking of one. Don’t get me wrong I would want to go see what’s going on and intercede and would be conflicted as to what to do. Stay in or go out. Ultimately my wife and my common sense would say to call the police and make sure that my kids still have their Daddy in the morning. Just my two cents.

    • Chick September 21, 2015, 3:10 am

      The man did exactly what he should have done. If someone was stealing my property, I would have done the same thing. The taking of a criminal’s life, who was attacking or stealing from you, is nothing to worry about. They don’t like it, obey the law. Any judge worth his salt, would not even hear a law suit case, over this matter. The criminals were wrong.

    • Mike September 21, 2015, 8:59 am

      I would have taken better aim.

    • Trip3 September 21, 2015, 5:41 pm

      I would not ever shine a light on thieves at work. They might be armed as well, and a big old flashlight is a pretty attractive target.

  • Jake Z September 16, 2015, 4:33 pm

    While obviously I’m all for obeying the laws, and staying as safe as possible, but there just comes a point when you have to just say FUCK CRIMINALS! I mean do I think that stealing tires is worth dying over? No absolutely not, but I mean come on the laws do more to protect CRIMINALS than they do You and me! Seriously, if you’re a criminal and you know the laws, then you know that other than catching an ass whooping (which even that in some states will get you put away or paying big bucks) you can commit any non deadly crime and be protected from danger, BY THE FUCKING LAW! Like I said I wouldn’t kill somebody over property, butI am starting to wish people could, maybe then criminals would get the hint not to steal, and vandalize, I mean if you know Joe Blow from down the road will shoot you over his tires I bet you’re going to be a lot less apt to steal from people! Crime has been given too much protection, THIEVES ARE WORTHLESS, RAPISTS ARE WORTHLESS, GANG MEMBERS ARE WORTHLESS, CRIMINALS IN GENERAL ARE WORTHLESS why do we make society so susceptible to the worthless, not to sound crazy but maybe this country needs a little Old West justice until people get their heads straight, this kind of stuff is out of control.

    • James M. September 17, 2015, 3:24 am

      I agree with you to a point. But, shooting at tire thieves because laws protect them only helps protect them more. No life was in danger at that point. We have to think smart. It could have been a ploy to get the man outside so a third man could get him from the side. Then a wife and or children could have been hurt. I personally own firearms because i enjoy them, they are my God given right, and they are a tool that I have to protect myself and loved ones. Personally I would have called the law while I quietly gathered my family beside me in the safety of my home.

      • Chick September 21, 2015, 3:04 am

        In Texas, it is lawful to shoot thieves on your property, at night. Someone doesn’t like that, don’t steal.

        • Judi September 21, 2015, 11:11 am

          Do you remember back in ’94 when a Houston homeowner shot and killed a repo man? The repo man was driving off with the guy’s truck. Homeowner saw him, got his rifle, and fired at the repo man as he was driving away. Repo man was hit – died behind the wheel of the truck. And the homeowner got away with murder. (Who doesn’t know that your vehicle will be repossessed when you haven’t made the payments on it?)

          And then there was that incident where a visiting Scotsman knocked on the wrong door in Houston late at night and the homeowner blasted right through the door with his shotgun, killing the man. That homeowner got away with murder, too, IMO. No thief is going to knock on your front door. He’ll kick it in.

          I’m all for defending one’s property, but those two instances show just how stupid some people are. Unfortunately, someone else paid the price for their stupidity.

          • JD September 21, 2015, 12:52 pm

            I disagree, in Miami, Fl. violent home invasions start with a knock on the door.

          • Badge 531 to protect September 21, 2015, 10:38 pm

            Judi, you sure have your stories screwed up. The Houston incident had nothing to do with a repo man. Home owner saw two men break into his neighbors home who were on vacation, and retrieved his shotgun and called 911. When the two men came out carrying his neighbors belongings he ordered them to stop and get on the ground. He was still. on the phone with the 911 dispatcher who told him not to shoot them. When the fools advanced on him instead of doing as ordered he opened fire. They were both illegal aliens who had criminal records for burglary & robbery. The Grand Jury no billed him.

            The second incident took place in New Orleans on a Halloween night. A 16 year old Japanese exchange student was killed when he tried to enter a home for a Halloween party. He was at the wrong home and didn’t understand the word “freeze!” & kept twisting the door handle. The homeowner fired through the door with a Smith & Wesson 44 magnum revolver killing the youngster instantly. In this incident the homeowner was convicted of manslaughter & sentenced to prison.

            In the state of Texas a citizen is allowed use deadly force during the hours of darkness to protect himself, family, property, and 3rd parties..It’s a little bit different during daylight.

            You internet quarterbacks can second guess this all you want. But you weren’t there. They weren’t your tires and wheels. I’ve seen pickup tires & wheels go for $600-$700 each. That’s a lot of money to some folks and even more when you think about losing a days work to contact the insurance company and go get new tires & wheels put on his truck.

            I answered a silent alarm one night at an auto repair shop. I caught a guy in the alley with a big mechanics tool box on wheels. Believe me a 10″ crescent wrench in guys hand looks an awful lot like a gun in a mans hand @ 3 a.m. in the dim light of a flash light @ 25′ It was a good thing for both of us that he dropped it when I ordered him to because I was ready to shoot if he didn’t. It all went well. He went to prison for a few years & I got an attaboy from the Capt.

          • Dale September 22, 2015, 12:03 am

            It’s a common tactic for criminals to fist knock on the door. It’s how they determine if someone is home, if they are old, young, infirm etc… If no one answers, then they often go around to the back door, or just kick in the front. If someone does answer, and the criminal is at a disadvantage, then they will often have a bullshit story about knocking on the wrong door, or asking for some fictitious person.
            Should a homeowner fire through the door w/out knowing who’s there? Absolutely not! But a late knight knock on the door is often the beginning of very bad things.

      • Michael Dugas September 21, 2015, 4:15 am

        He felt his life was in danger when he thought they pulled-out a weapon; at night time, when on your own property, faced with the possibility of being shot yourself, it’s best to take care of business and let God sort them out.

        If you want to sit in your house while you think some stranger may be on your property, at night, and wait for the police to arrive, then that’s your call.

        If you want to go outside, at night, and see what is happening on your own property, then you’ve the right to do that, too.

        There are risks and benefits to both approaches. I prefer his approach, and I act on it.

      • Duke September 21, 2015, 6:59 am

        So stealing tires isnt a “gateway crime”? Listen, the sooner these criminals get a taste of repercussions for their actions the sooner they might find salvation… Just sayin…

        DD

      • Mike September 21, 2015, 8:58 am

        In this situation he was justified in everything he did. He does not have to be attacked by armed thieves, he simply has to prove that his life felt threatened, and it being night time on his property I don’t think that would be hard to prove. BTW I agree, the hassle and cost of legal defense in this situation far outweighs the cost of a set of tires, but I have personally had enough of the good people in the US being victimized by the “victim social class”…it’s time to start defending to the point they realize that the thievery is no longer worth the risk.

  • Grumpy September 16, 2015, 12:26 pm

    Take care of buisness then call 911
    If these theves was any good by the time the police got there they would have been gone.
    Get a Job and buy your tires.

  • SuperG September 16, 2015, 12:07 pm

    What isn’t a major event to one man, could be to another. He did what he did and hopefully he said the right thing and won’t be prosecuted.

    • Walt September 21, 2015, 8:27 am

      Here in Michigan, which is a castle doctrine state, the standard is the “imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.” He would definitely go to jail and buy some lawyer a new boat. Plus, even a slimeballs life is worth more than a set of tires. I vote with calling the police.

  • Eric September 16, 2015, 11:42 am

    I would have stayed inside and called the police. The legal defense after shooting a crook (even in the right) costs more than a set of tires, a lot more! Then there is the possibility of the home owner going to jail if the legal system doesn’t work like it’s supposed to, which can and does happen.

    • Paul September 21, 2015, 8:57 am

      I did both at 03:00 in Virginia Beach for 3 cars of teens(?) on my property, relieving themselves in the lake and in my driveway. Almost confronted by one male but one female saw I was armed and called her “friend” off. Group finally left. Police never showed, dispatcher wanted a description before they dispatched. At the time I was a dispatcher for city of Norfolk and was required to send police whenever citizen requested.

    • rouge1 September 21, 2015, 9:37 am

      Eric what a pussy. Evil prevails when good men do nothing. In your defence you are a good government subject though.

    • D36c/a2 September 21, 2015, 12:26 pm

      No, Eric is right. Granted I live in the people’s democratic republic of illinois, where retreat is required. It’s the smarter play. Is taking a life over tires really a thing?

      • rory gibbons September 21, 2015, 3:46 pm

        Yes killing a man stealing from you should your right, it’s your property and their stealing it, this time it’s tires, next time one of your kids, He was right and I’m glad he shot those Goddamn thieves, don’t want o get shot and die, simple, don’t steal or harm the good people, in fact try to become one.

      • Chris Hale September 12, 2016, 12:11 pm

        YES! Shooting a thief that is robbing you IS A THING! A very appropriate thing if i might add.

    • Robert Burke September 21, 2015, 3:16 pm

      The man needs to go back to the range and practice shooting. Both crooks needed to be hit and stopped at the crime scene! Now one may be caught but both could still be out and a threat to society!!

    • jim September 21, 2015, 4:40 pm

      In the wonderful state I live in it is against the law to use deadly force to protect property. Best part is the PD is useless and wouldn’t want to bust a relative at any rate. I would probably shoot anyway which is common knowledge here and explains my lack of thefts. It would be nice if the law actually protected the property owners vs worrying about to local scum.

    • Frank Staples September 21, 2015, 10:53 pm

      The nearest police, who would respond, are usually at least fifteen minutes away. I would have investigated while having my wife call the police, but I would have investigated with a rifle and a pistol as backup. And a very bright light as the blinding effect is extremely useful and it takes most people several seconds to recover their vision.

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