In a dramatic turn of events at a mall in San Antonio, Texas, a Ford truck owner fearlessly defended his property, resulting in a shootout that claimed the life of an alleged car thief. The incident, which took place on the south side of the mall parking lot, has sparked discussions about self-defense and property rights.
A man tracked down his stolen truck in Texas and confronted the alleged car thief, who was killed in an ensuing gunfight with the car owner, police say. https://t.co/Owt09T5U61
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 28, 2023
The 45-year-old truck owner was out shopping at the mall when the theft occurred, and he wasted no time in tracking down his prized possession.
Following the trail, he located the stolen truck on the south side of the mall, with the alleged car thief, aged 34, and a 25-year-old female companion inside. After catching up to them, the truck owner confronted the duo, holding them at gunpoint while promptly calling the police.
However, the situation took a deadly turn when, just moments before the officers’ arrival, the suspected thief pulled out his own gun and shot at the owner. In an act of self-defense, the owner retaliated, tragically ending the thief’s life.
The woman accompanying the suspect was reportedly caught in the crossfire and sustained critical injuries.
San Antonio Police Chief McManus acknowledged that the deceased suspect was the “bad guy” in this situation, as he had committed the crime of stealing the truck. While he recognized John’s actions as a form of self-defense, McManus refrained from outright endorsing the use of lethal force to protect property.
“I guess it would depend on who you asked if he did the right thing or not…We would prefer that (you) call the police before taking that into your own hands,” he stated.
“But he (the truck’s owner) did what he felt he needed to do and we have one dead suspect and we have a critically wounded passenger who was with the suspect and we have a wounded owner of the vehicle,” he added.
The incident has left the public divided on whether the car owner’s actions were justified. Some argue that he was merely defending his property and had the right to do so, while others urge citizens to rely on the police to handle such situations.
Texas is the wild wild west. Instead of just calling the cops after spoting the vehicle a person is dead.
— christopher Christopher (@cq_heartbreak) July 28, 2023
Don’t steal and point a gun at the owner; then maybe you won’t get capped. https://t.co/Xrd1Wuy2hq
— Grand Admiral of Propaganda (@TheIOGuy) July 28, 2023
However, he might not be in legal trouble as Texas allows the use of deadly force for the purpose of recovering one’s property.
Through the debate, the identities of those involved remain undisclosed.
