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A Texas father took decisive action when a would-be carjacker attempted to steal his vehicle with his family, including his young children, still inside. The suspect had just fled the scene of a multi-car collision nearby.
The incident unfolded on a Sunday afternoon near Highway 66, approximately 18 miles from Downtown Dallas. At around 3:30 p.m., a driver crashed into two vehicles, triggering the chaotic series of events, according to the Garland Police Department.
After the crash, the driver, whose identity remains undisclosed, ran to a nearby gas station. There, he allegedly attempted to seize several vehicles by force.
Footage obtained by Fox 4 captured the suspect’s approach to a white Impala parked in a shopping center across the street.
The suspect, still unidentified by authorities, moved towards the driver’s side of the Impala, prompting the father inside to spring into action and exit the vehicle.
The father had several children and two adult women in the car during the violent encounter, police said.
The suspected carjacker tried to yank the father away from the vehicle, which triggered a struggle as a young boy and the rest of the family bolted from the car.
Police said that the father “produced a firearm” and fired more than 10 rounds at the suspect.
The suspected carjacker was rushed to a hospital, where he died from his injuries, Fox 4 reported. Police said they are still working to identify the suspect. Police only described him as a Hispanic male.
All passengers in the targeted vehicle, including the children, escaped without injury.
The father stayed at the scene, cooperated with investigators and turned over his weapon to officers to aid in their investigation.
Police said they do not expect to file charges against the father, Garland Police Lt. Pedro Barineau told NBCDFW.
“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.
“We are looking at this as a self-defense case. We’re also looking into why this suspect did what he did.”
The shooting drew a strong reaction from the community as many residents praised the father for protecting his family.
“I have three kids. I’m gonna do whatever it takes to keep them safe. That kind of stuff is split-second,” resident Taylor Standfield told the outlet.
“It’s hard to imagine what it’s even like being in that situation with the adrenaline and knowing that you have kids in your vehicle.”
Garland Smoke and Vape manager Tatiana Starks, who witnessed the shooting from a nearby shopping center, said the suspect was clearly not himself in the moments before it happened.
“You could definitely tell that he was not in his right state of mind,” Starks told Fox 4. “I’m just glad that the man was able to protect himself and his family.”
“It’s just a blessing that the kids and the family walked away with no injuries,” she added.