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Property Owner Shoots Suspected Thieves(TX)
nbcdfw.com ^ | 1 July, 2010 | JULIE TAM

Posted on 07/03/2010 10:26:32 AM PDT by marktwain

Denton County investigators are looking into a possible case of vigilante justice.

Authorities said two men were stealing an air conditioning unit, when the owner of the property shot them. It happened at a race car driving school at Texas Motor Speedway near Justin where the owner lives.

Mike Starr was sleeping inside his home, which is a warehouse-looking building on the property of his business, Team Texas High Performance Driving School, when he was rudely awakened.

A few hours before most people started showing up for work, a concrete truck driver drove past Starr's home.

"He just said the man came out, had the gun in his hand, in his boxers, and asked him to call police because somebody had been shot," said Kathy Saenz, office manager of Gateway Concrete down the street.

Investigators said Starr heard noises outside, went out, confronted two men in their '50s, and then shot them with a 12-gauge shotgun.

"It's Texas, so everyone has a gun," said Kelly Worthington, owner of nearby Worth Printing.

The pair had stolen Starr's A/C condenser and put it in the back of their pickup truck, according to the Denton County Sheriff's Office.

"It's pretty serious to steal a man's air conditioning in the summertime in Texas," said Tom Reedy, public information officer.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcdfw.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: banglist; gun; property; tx
Air Conditioning in Summer... rather like stealing a man's horse?
1 posted on 07/03/2010 10:26:39 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

I just hardly care. The police don’t take crimes like this very seriously and the public is sick and tired of being victimized. This is what you get.


2 posted on 07/03/2010 10:29:45 AM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: brytlea

Cosmic justice would be if illegals steal the DA’s air conditioner tonight...


3 posted on 07/03/2010 10:31:47 AM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: MrEdd

Another entry in the “Don’t Mess With Texas” file!


4 posted on 07/03/2010 10:35:44 AM PDT by Radagast the Fool ("Mexico-Beirut with tacos!"--Dr. Zoidberg)
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To: marktwain

A specific Texas law covers this: Mischief at night = clean shoot.

Idiot reporter...


5 posted on 07/03/2010 10:38:53 AM PDT by piytar (Re: AlGore's latest - Karl Rove, you magnificent #######!)
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To: marktwain
"It's pretty serious to steal a man's air conditioning in the summertime in Texas."

yosemitesam
"Somebody git a rope."
6 posted on 07/03/2010 10:39:26 AM PDT by PowderMonkey (Will work for ammo)
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To: marktwain
Denton County investigators are looking into a possible case of vigilante justice.

Shooting criminals in the act of committing a crime is not "vigilante justice".

7 posted on 07/03/2010 10:39:49 AM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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To: marktwain

“Denton County investigators are looking into a possible case of vigilante justice. “

So now it’s ‘vigilante justice’ to protect your home and property?

The reporter-ette is an idiot.


8 posted on 07/03/2010 10:40:11 AM PDT by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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To: marktwain

LOL!You are so right this heat is a killer..


9 posted on 07/03/2010 10:42:48 AM PDT by PLD
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To: marktwain
In full agreement with the shooter, Mr Star the 12ga is the preferred method of disposal. My personal choice is the Remington 870 Tactical.
10 posted on 07/03/2010 10:48:15 AM PDT by Recon Dad ( Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things)
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To: marktwain

They wanted his air conditioner. He gave them air conditioning.


11 posted on 07/03/2010 10:55:12 AM PDT by DGHoodini (Iran Azadi!)
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To: DGHoodini

One in serious condition, the other in critical.


12 posted on 07/03/2010 10:56:26 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: Bigh4u2

That was the first thing I noticed too.


13 posted on 07/03/2010 11:03:44 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Gone Galt and loving it)
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To: marktwain


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

14 posted on 07/03/2010 11:05:20 AM PDT by The Comedian (Evil can only succeed if good men don't point at it and laugh.)
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To: marktwain

( ADVICE TO CRIMINALS ) MOVE TO CHICAGO, YOU WILL BE SHOT IN NORTH TEXAS!!!


15 posted on 07/03/2010 11:10:14 AM PDT by texas sword
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To: Paleo Conservative

It’s pretty evident how much intelligence the reporter has- the article is showing a handgun, when the owner used a 12 gauge.


16 posted on 07/03/2010 11:26:20 AM PDT by matthew fuller (2012: Bachman, Bolton, Brewer, Liz Cheney, Coburn, DeMint, Inhofe, Jindal, Palin and Pence.)
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To: marktwain

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Two-men-shot-in-Denton-County—97590044.html

Love the comments on WFAA’s coverage.


17 posted on 07/03/2010 11:37:01 AM PDT by sockmonkey
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To: marktwain

For the copper. Put the unit on the roof if you can.


18 posted on 07/03/2010 11:43:09 AM PDT by AndrewB (FUBO)
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To: The Comedian

Hey Mr. Comedian, Where did you get the photo of my little brothers and me?


19 posted on 07/03/2010 11:52:47 AM PDT by texas sword
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To: marktwain
Denton County investigators are looking into a possible case of vigilante justice.

Authorities said two men were stealing an air conditioning unit, when the owner of the property shot them.

If they are in the act of stealing it, it's not vigilante justice, it's justifiable use of deadly force to protect property.

Sorry NBC-DFW "reporter", you might take a look at the law, as it exists in Texas, not New York City or other left wing eastern hell hole that you might have come from.

20 posted on 07/03/2010 11:55:43 AM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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To: piytar; All
Texas Castle Doctrine
21 posted on 07/03/2010 11:57:06 AM PDT by Sarajevo (You're jealous because the voices only talk to me.)
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To: marktwain

Only the MSM would put up a picture of a semi-auto handgun, when their own story clearly says the defender used a 12 gauge shotgun.


22 posted on 07/03/2010 11:59:55 AM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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To: piytar
A specific Texas law covers this: Mischief at night = clean shoot.

In this case it would be "theft" during the night. Might also be burglary (which can be justification for use of deadly force anytime)

23 posted on 07/03/2010 12:01:36 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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To: El Gato
Gato, you actually expect the reporter to (gasp!!) do some research?

Wherever did you get a quaint idea like that??

It's difficult to see where this property owner could be found at fault. And, as Gato and others have pointed out, he should be fully backed by Texas law.

24 posted on 07/03/2010 12:05:39 PM PDT by susannah59
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To: texas sword
ADVICE TO CRIMINALS ) MOVE TO CHICAGO, YOU WILL BE SHOT IN NORTH TEXAS!!!

And in East Texas, South Texas, Central Texas, and West Texas as well.

Up in Chicago, the mayor is doing his best to protect you from those nasty law-abiding citizens, however.

25 posted on 07/03/2010 12:16:50 PM PDT by susannah59
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To: marktwain
possible case of vigilante justice

Not that I see a problem with "vigilante justice" that is not what this sounds like. Sounds like he caught them red-handed, on his property, stealing his property. Assuming he is not a commissioned peace officer or subject to the Laws of Warfare, he has no legal obligation to take prisoners.

26 posted on 07/03/2010 12:21:09 PM PDT by Feckless (Don't care where he was born. The oath I took said "...against all enemies, foreign and domestic".)
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To: marktwain
What is that Texian phrase? Oh, yeah.

“Those men just needed killin’.”

He may later regret NOT killing them, but I hope it works out well for him as is. I also hope those two find another line of work. Their old one seems to be getting too hazardous.

27 posted on 07/03/2010 12:25:50 PM PDT by Old Student
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To: Old Student

I like the Chill Wills’ character’s response about the James Dean character in GIANT: “We shoulda’ killed that boy a long time ago. He’s too rich to kill now.”


28 posted on 07/03/2010 12:38:47 PM PDT by Terry Mross ( I voted for McCain and still feel like I wasted my vote. Vote third party - same results.)
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To: Sarajevo
Texas Castle Doctrine

In this case the law concerned was not changed by the Castle law. Texans could use deadly force to prevent burglary and theft during the night well before that 2007 law. I renewed my CHL in November 2008, meaning I first got it in 2003. The law was, in that respect the same in 2003 as now.

You might recall a case from Dallas, about the time the CHL law was being debated, where a gentleman shot a bunch of teenagers who were stealing his rims. Not only did he shoot some who were actually taking them off his vehicle, he shot into their vehicle which contained yet more young hoodlums. Result, grand jury returned a "no bill", meaning no crime was committed, and his use of force, an SKS IIRC, was justified under the law.

29 posted on 07/03/2010 12:52:25 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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To: El Gato
Denton County investigators are looking into a possible case of vigilante justice.

Note to self. Remember Denton County investigators do not believe the people will ever rise up to oppose this stupid investigative behavior. Denton County investigators are therefore ignorant.

30 posted on 07/03/2010 1:07:47 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: marktwain

I say kill any motherf**ker who tries to steal from you. I’d further venture to say that 85 percent of all criminals are demorats; maybe higher.


31 posted on 07/03/2010 2:46:49 PM PDT by New Jersey Realist (Congress doesn't care a damn about "we the people")
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To: marktwain

I say kill any motherf**ker who tries to steal from you. I’d further venture to say that 85 percent of all criminals are demorats; maybe higher. THIS BEARS REPEATING


32 posted on 07/03/2010 2:47:14 PM PDT by New Jersey Realist (Congress doesn't care a damn about "we the people")
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Note to self. Remember Denton County investigators do not believe the people will ever rise up to oppose this stupid investigative behavior

It's probably not the Denton County investigators, but rather the DFW reporters. They do have to "investigate" enough to show that the facts are as related. IOW, that they really were making off with his property.

But given that they were, the Denton county DA and Sheriff know which way the wind blows and aren't about to prosecute the defender.

33 posted on 07/03/2010 5:00:26 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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