Posted on 04/23/2016 3:28:47 PM PDT by smokingfrog
THE WOODLANDS, Texas - A person with a concealed handgun license tried to help stop a trio of thieves by opening fire at their getaway car in a store parking lot near The Woodlands Mall Friday afternoon.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, three people were seen trying to steal clothing from an Academy store on Lake Woodlands Drive Friday afternoon.
As the suspects were leaving the scene, a citizen licensed to carry a weapon tried to stop them.
The citizen fired shots at the stolen minivan the thieves were driving, shooting at the tires.
Brian Murphy heard the shots. He said, "I was coming out of Starbucks and I heard a super-loud noise. Sounded like, to me, it could have ... I thought it was either of two things ... it sounded like a gunshot.
(Excerpt) Read more at click2houston.com ...
+1
Somebody tried that up here in Michigan. The individuals permit was pulled and they got charged.
CC
Yeah, you can’t do that even if you know the perps just committed murder, much less if they just tried to steal some clothes. They’re running away from you, therefore not a threat.
Stupid move on the shooters part, doesn’t know where the rounds will end up.
Shooting at tires sounds too much like a TV cop show. You miss & the bullet is likely to ricochet or hit someone or some thing unintended.
I suspect we do not know the whole story. However, if it is accurate that citizen should have his concealed carry permit revoked.
If you are not in fear of your life or the life of others are in danger keep the weapon concealed. Do not pull it out. End of story.
At least give him credit for not shooting out the windows of the car.
I conceal carry for my protection not to go all Jane Wayne in public.
Exactly
Dumb move. He could have hit an innocent. In most states, you are only permitted to use deadly force if you or a loved one is imminent danger for your life. This guy took a huge risk attempting to enforce the law with a deadly weapon. He will most likely lose his carry permit as well.
What if they’re taking someone from the store as a hostage?
Even more nuts, shooting at a vehicle that you know holds an innocent civilian.
Yes, maybe, but not for the same reasons some think. Wrong time of day is most likely if it was not nighttime. If this was a robbery, then deadly force by third party is justified.
I know people who have live in Texas and have told me about Texas law not restrict deadly force like other states. Deadly force is justified not just for physical safety but for such things as robbery and burglary....even (if after night time) theft and vandalism. Deadly force is still justified if the criminals are fleeing or not.
I found this online which matches what people told me.
Texas CHL-16 2013-14 Section concerning third party justification (protecting someone other person’s stuff):
(1) if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41; and
(2) when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:
(A) to prevent the other’s imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime; or
(B) to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the night¬time from escaping with the property; and
(3) he reasonably believes that:
(A) the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means; or
(B) the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.
Perhaps this is part of why some say don’t mess with Texas
I agree with all of the comments stating that it was not smart.
However, Texas law is much more lenient towards the “hero” type than any other state. Whether they will charge him or not, I have no idea.
He should be charged just to discourage other John Wayne wannabe’s. This sort of stuff does not do us any favors in the fight against the gun grabbers.
One of their main points is that some rambo type like this guy will shoot an innocent.
Don’t know where Woodlands is, but TX geography would be a factor. There are lots of places in Texas where you could burn the barrel of a machine gun and not hit an innocent bystander.
I was on a grand jury once...
Gang banger had a full clip in a baretta...
he had 4 “targets”.....
of that clip ONE round hit ONE “target”
the other 14? rounds hit houses all around...one went through a window a block away passing between the family of 4 that was watching tv...
useless....drugged -up pos. I argued to indict based on bad marksmanship .....
We did...
Generally high end planned community north of Houston. Around 100,000 residents, a number of corporate campuses, planned retail. Built from scratch starting in the mid 1970s, with a long pause following the oil crash in the late 80's.
Whatever happened to just winging ‘em in the arm?
Texas is a little different.
In 2007 a guy in Pasadena TX shot and killed two guys who were burglarizing his neighbor’s home. He told police if they didn’t get there quickly enough, he was going kill them.
They didn’t, and he did.
He was cleared in Jan 08.
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