Abducted man shoots carjackers, police say

Houston Chronicle ^ | May 27, 2006 | ERIC HANSON

[Ninian Dryhope]

The Richmond police heard shots and came running

RICHMOND - Two teenagers who police said tried to steal a Rosenberg man's luxury car picked the wrong person, the wrong place and the wrong time.

After abducting the man, who was able to stash his own pistol in a pocket, the teens drove him to a vacant lot Friday that just happened to be a few hundred feet from the Richmond police station, where officers were changing shifts.

When McRon Thompson, 23, opened fire on the would-be car thieves, police heard the shots and came running. The teens, who were both wounded, were captured.

"Obviously, they didn't know where they were, close to the police station and during a shift change. They didn't have a clue," said Sgt. Lowell Neinast of the Richmond Police Department.

Neinast said the teens are from Brookshire and detectives do not know why they chose the Fort Bend County town as a place for a carjacking.

The two, 18-year-old Joshua Payne and a 15-year-old whose name was not released because of his age, are facing aggravated robbery charges.

No charges are expected against Thompson, Neinast said.

Thompson had stopped at a carwash in the 1400 block of Jackson about 1 a.m., after finishing work at the nearby Richmond Foundry.

Vehicles looked suspicious

Neinast said Thompson was washing his customized Cadillac when he noticed three vehicles drive slowly through the carwash parking lot. The cars left but returned a few minutes later, again going slowly through the parking lot.

After the three cars passed by the second time, Thompson retrieved a .40-caliber pistol from his car, loaded it and then put it in his pocket.

A few minutes later, one of the cars returned to the carwash and stopped.

When Thompson peered around the wall of a carwash stall, he found himself staring at the end of a pistol held by a young man wearing a bandana over his face.

The gunman forced Thompson into the back seat of the Cadillac while another person got behind the wheel and began to drive away.

Neinast said the pair drove to the 500 block of Calhoun, just a block away from the Richmond police station, an imposing brick building that served for many years as the Fort Bend County Jail.

The teens ordered Thompson out of his car and told him to lie down on the grass. While Thompson was complying, a second vehicle, one that he had seen earlier at the carwash, arrived and stopped.

Neinast said as the teens were getting ready to leave in the Cadillac, Thompson managed to pull his pistol and open fire.

Payne was hit in the back by a bullet that exited his stomach. The other teen was struck in the right shoulder.

Police officers, standing in the parking lot of the station, heard the shots and were on the scene in seconds. Officers spotted the teens running, then caught them. Police also recovered a semiautomatic pistol allegedly used by the 15-year-old, Neinast said.

Both teens hospitalized

Payne was taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital and the 15-year-old to Ben Taub Hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available.

Other suspects are still at large.

Neinast said Thompson's Cadillac was in "immaculate condition," and the suspects were probably just driving around town looking for a target.

"Then they spotted him in the carwash," Neinast said.

[Cyclone59]

Why do we even take these a=holes to the hospital - I would have put band-aids on their flesh wounds and let 'em die, err I mean go home.

[VeritatisSplendor]

I didn't say there was anything wrong with punk-baiting, did I?

Mrs VS

[Ninian Dryhope]

"The teens, who were both wounded, were captured."

True, but there were more than those two involved in the carjacking.

"While Thompson was complying, a second vehicle, one that he had seen earlier at the car wash, arrived and stopped."
So there were two teens in the Cadillacs with him, when another car showed up, and at least one person was in that car.

"he noticed three vehicles drive slowly through the carwash parking lot."

So there were three cars casing the place and only two were shot, so there is at least one more out there who needs shooting.

[Ninian Dryhope]

And in Texas, one kill use deadly force to retrieve one's property. Hell, one can use deadly force to stop malicious mischief at night.

[Ninian Dryhope]

This happened in Texas, not Massachusetts.

[apackof2]

"Obviously, they didn't know where they were, close to the police station and during a shift change

Criminals are stupid

Good for the citizen shooter

[apackof2]

Hell, one can use deadly force to stop malicious mischief at night.

Really?

Just one more reason I will be a Texan in the very near future

[Caipirabob]

My wife and I broke down and both purchased hand guns yesterday and plan on getting conceal and carry licenses in the next few weeks.

Good for you!

I've always had some guns, but last year I bought my wife and I nearly matching model Taurus .38 Sp's. Nearly matching because one is SS and the other blackened. She chose the black one. Should I be jealous? ; p

All kidding aside, we've been to the range many times. She's nigh 100 lbs and enjoys the gun as she can handle the trigger pressure. It's a concern because she's got 4 herniated disks and a spinal fusion from an accident a couple of years ago.

We have several guns for home defense (some hidden others in a gun vault) and for driving. We've never needed them and I pray we never will. However, should it become necessary, we have some means to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

May you never need them as well.

[winodog]

I agree. I just have seen lawyers pull crap like that.

You just never know when the teenager who just pulled a gun on you, kidnapped you and stole your car might decide to commit his first murder.

Its not like he hasnt already done enough to be hung by the neck in a civillized society.

[Ninian Dryhope]

Good point.

Still, I think the old boy would probably forgone the excitement of having a gun stuck in his face by a masked man, being forced to ride with gunmen to a dark and secluded spot, and being forced to lay down in the grass with a gun pointed at him, if he would have had his druthers.

This guy works in a foundry and drives a customized Cadillac, so it is probably a given that he is not the brightest bulb in the neighborhood.

He should still be able to wash his ride in peace.

[aculeus]

Years ago a thief tried to hold up a Citibank branch on Third Avenue in NYC. The bank was across the street from the NYC branch of the FBI. It was payday and the bank was full of agents depositing their paychecks. End of story.

[Ninian Dryhope]

Sec. 9.42. DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY. A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property:
~ ~ (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 nighttime 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.

http://www.bakers-legal-pages.com/pc/0942.htm

[Recon Dad]

My wife got a S&W 38 and I got a Glock 9MM. As with you I hope they never have to be used, but I don't believe anyone is really out there to protect me but myself.
Getting to the scene of the crime is not protecting me.

[apackof2]

Thanks for info and link

[JCEccles]

to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property;

Texas. One state that gets it right.

[appeal2]

Black Talons would have a saved the taxpayers a bundle.

[Candor7]

The moral of the story? use a bigger caliber bullet.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That and the double tap.

[Candor7]

I can hear the attorney now.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Definite problem there.

He should have killed em both.

Or dropped em in the car wash instead of walking into a drawn gun.

But there is too much wisdom in hind sight.

The moral of these incidents is illustrated over and over. Shoot first, early and accurately to kill, when using justified deadly force.

[cbkaty]

If they had said black teens, would that have narrowed it down enough for you that you would be able to help locate them?

.....please note that these "teens" were from Brookshire, TX.....that says much to me... I live south of Brookshire...and don't go there unarmed.

[cbkaty]

Hell, one can use deadly force to stop malicious mischief at night.

...technically yes, one has a defense to prosecution for using deadly force to stop malicious mischief at night in Texas....(Native Texan). One will still take the ride downtown....and an attorney will likely be needed.