Thursday, May 7, 2026 - A Texas father fatally shot a would-be carjacker who attempted to steal his vehicle while his family, including young children, were still inside.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in Garland,
approximately 18 miles outside of Downtown Dallas, following a multi-vehicle
crash involving the suspect on Highway 66.
The suspect, described by police as a Hispanic male,
reportedly fled the scene of the accident and headed to a nearby gas station,
where he attempted to take several vehicles by force.
Surveillance footage eventually captured him approaching a
white Chevrolet Impala in a shopping center parking lot. The father was in the
vehicle with several children and two adult women when the suspect erraticly
approached the driver’s side and attempted to yank the father away from the
car.
A struggle ensued as the children and women bolted from the
vehicle to safety. During the physical altercation, the father produced a
firearm and fired more than 10 rounds at the suspect. The man was rushed to a
local hospital but later died from his injuries.
All passengers in the vehicle escaped the encounter without
injury. The father remained at the scene, cooperated fully with investigators,
and surrendered his weapon to the police. Garland Police Lt. Pedro Barineau
stated that authorities are treating this as a case of self-defense and do not
expect to file charges against the father.
"That driver was defending himself and was fighting
with that suspect. The car was occupied by several children as well as two
other female adults," Barineau said.
Witnesses at the scene, including a nearby store manager,
noted that the suspect appeared to be in an altered state of mind prior to the
attempted carjacking.
The community has largely reacted with support for the
father's actions, emphasizing the split-second nature of protecting one's
children during such a violent encounter. Police are still working to formally
identify the deceased suspect and determine the motives behind his erratic
behavior.
Garland, Texas: A father shoots and kills a carjacker attempting to steal his vehicle with family inside. The man tried to steal several vehicles before the incident. Police describe the May 3rd incident as self-defense and don't expect to file charges. pic.twitter.com/aADvAMILUe
— Josh Ryan 🍁 (@joshryanjames) May 5, 2026
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