Crime Time

Report: CHL carrier kills suspected robber in SE Fort Worth; debate ensues

With all the attention on Boston and Kaufman County, we almost overlooked yesterday’s report by Deanna Boyd on a suspected robber getting shot by CHL carrier in southeast Fort Worth, according to the earliest reports.

It’s a short article — practically what we call a "brief" — but it has sparked rigorous debate on guns, race, politics...

A buffet of ideas awaits you. Jump in here.

— Bill Miller

Man dies five years after shooting in Fort Worth alley

Abelardo Avila, 36, has died almost five years to the day that he was shot in the head in a north Fort Worth alley.

A friend, 22-year-old Joe Vasquez, was also killed.

The medical examiner's office has now ruled Avila's death was caused by complications of quadriplegia due to the gunshot wound.

Two brothers had been arrested in connection with the Dec. 9, 2007, shootings of Avila and Vasquez but were later no-billed by a Tarrant County grand jury on murder and attempted murder charges over what attorneys suggested were self-defense issues in the case.

Deanna Boyd has the background in this report.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01/22/4566468/five-years-after-being-shot-man.html#storylink=cpy

Burglary suspect, held at gunpoint, asks Parker County 911 operator, 'It's a joke, right?'

A burglar suspect — who was caught in the act — called 911 as he was being held at gunpoint by the homeowner of a Springtown residence.

The homeowner also called 911 to report the crime.

The suspect left the house and proceeded to get inside his pickup truck, where the homeowner confronted him — with a gun.

The homeowner told the man to drop his keys, which he did. The man, sitting in the truck, called 911. He repeatedly told the operator, "He’s going to shoot me."

"Why have they threatened to shoot you?" the operator asked.

"Because I’m on his property," he said.

"Were you trying to break into his house?"

"No."

"What were you doing?"

"I was ... I was walking."

"Do you live out there?"

"No."

"OK, I’m going to stay on the phone with you until we get a deputy there. He’s not that far off, OK?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I’m sure. Just don’t move. Tell the gentleman you’re on the phone with 911 and I know what’s going on and we have a deputy coming. OK?"

"He’s going to shoot me."

"No, he’s not going to shoot you. Just don’t move. Just don’t move."

"It’s a joke, right?"

"It’s a joke? Is that what you’re saying?"

"It’s gotta be, right?"

"No, it’s not a joke. It’s very serious and you need to sit right there until a deputy gets there. You just sit right there. You’re fine."

Read more in this report by Domingo Ramirez Jr.

Man, 79, disables rifle-toting intruder with karate chop

Police say a 79-year-old Houston-area man used a karate chop to disable an intruder and disarmed him until officers could get to his house.

Police in League City, a suburb, say Ervin Brittnacher reported noises outside his house awakened him early Monday. He went to the door, saw a man with a rifle and hit him in the throat with the side of his hand.

Then he took the rifle and ordered the man to sit down until police arrived.

Read more in the report from The Associated Press.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/04/4460011/texas-man-79-thwarts-intruder.html#storylink=cpy

Police say man, 21, shot while breaking into home in Grand Prairie

A man suspected of burglary was in critical condition late Tuesday after he was shot by a resident in south Grand Prairie, police said.

Gilberto Balderas, 21, was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth following the shooting in the 2000 block of Clark Trail, police said.

The resident called 911 at 2:29 p.m. to say someone was breaking into the home and that he was armed with a handgun. A moment later, while still on the phone, the man said the intruder came at him with a knife and that he shot him.

Officers arrived and found Balderas on the floor with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

"Near the suspect was a knife," said Det. Lyle Gensler, police spokesman, in a news release. "The suspect was treated and transported by helicopter to John Peter Smith Hospital where he was taken into surgery and is listed in critical condition."

Gensler said the resident was interviewed at the scene.

"This appears to be a justified shooting," he said, "but the case will be presented to the grand jury as is proper procedure in these types of incidents."

He also noted that "the suspect will be charged with burglary of a residence."

— Bill Miller

'Ride-In' citizen acted on his own to chase suspected burglar in north Fort Worth, police say

Two suspected burglars were identified Friday following an incident in which they were wounded by a citizen in north Fort Worth.

They are Joseph Michael Ross (shown here) and Levi Gouge, both 17.

The bizarre incident Thursday afternoon involved a run-in with police, and a civilian who was riding with officers.

The neighbor said he shot at the suspects because he thought he was witnessing a life-threating situation for the officers and the citizen who was chasing a suspect.

But on Friday, Major Paul Henderson, a police spokesman, said the "Ride-In" citizen acted on his own, not at the request of an officer.

Civilian observers of police patrols are given written instructions not to get involved in an incident unless specifically asked by an officer, in accordance with state law.

But, Henderson added, the officer "never told him to get out of the car and didn't summon his aid. He took it upon himself."

Henderson said the department doesn't recommend citizens get involved in "those kind of confrontations or get involved in any police actions unless absolutely necessary because it's life-threatening."

Read more in Deanna Boyd's report.

 

Two burglary suspects wounded by man trying to help Fort Worth police; another civilian riding with officers also reacts, violating rules, police say

Two suspects trying to escape after a home burglary were shot Thursday in a bizarre incident involving a neighbor with a .45-caliber handgun and a young civilian riding along with police.

Two Fort Worth patrol units responding to a burglary report on Tulare Lane arrived at the scene in time to see two men trying to get away.

The civilian, a young man who was riding along to observe officers at work, jumped from one of the patrol cars and headed toward one of the suspects who was getting into the car.

A neighbor later told police that he thought the civilian was a plain-clothes policeman, and he feared the getaway car would hit the civilian and a patrol car, so he opened fire, which sent the suspects to the hospital, police said. The aftermath is shown in this photo.

The "Ride-in" civilian, however, violated written instructions not to get involved, police said.

Bill Miller has more in this report.

 

Suspects identified in Dallas burglary that proved deadly for one of them

Dallas police have identified the two men who allegedly participated in a burglary Wednesday in which a resident (a 22-year-old woman) opened fire, killing one of them.

Officers responded 11:30 a.m. to a shooting in the 7200 block of Concordia Lane.

According to the department's Facebook page, "The homeowner shot at the suspects, who were inside her residence, striking one of the them. The suspects fled the residence and one of the suspects collapsed on the sidewalk in front of the residence from the gunshot wound."

The man who died later at the hospital was identified as 19-year-old Isaiah Williams of Dallas.

The other man, who was arrested later, was Eric Ford, 47 (shown here). He was jailed on a charge of burglary of a habitation.

Bond was set at $100,000. Dallas County court records show he has an extensive criminal background, including arrests for theft, burglary, drugs and resisting arrest.

 The shooting will be referred to the Dallas County Grand Jury, according to the Facebook entry. 

-- Bill Miller

Dallas woman opens fire on intruders, kills one

A 22-year-old woman opened fire on intruders this morning at her south Dallas home, killing one.

NBC 5 learned from Dallas police that the woman said two people who kicked in the
door to her house at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 7200 block of Concordia Drive.

The woman's father told NBC 5 he taught his daughter how to shoot to protect herself.

One man collapsed outside and died later at a hospital; the other man got away. Police said a gun was found at the home, which indicated at least one of them was armed.

Click here to read NBC 5's complete report.

What does Texas law say about using deadly force to protect yourself or your property? Read the law here.

 

 

Concealed carry permit holder won't be charged

Police say a man who fatally shot a suspected robber after another person was killed during a Dallas-area poker game is not expected to be charged.

A Dallas County grand jury is expected to review the shootings that happened in Mesquite.

However, police say 34-year-old Jerome Johnson has a concealed handgun permit and was not arrested in the apparent self-defense case.

-- Compiled by Bill Miller from a report by The Associated Press.