A chaotic Sunday afternoon in this Dallas suburb ended in deadly violence when a man who had just crashed into multiple vehicles was shot and killed while attempting to carjack a family-filled car outside a convenience store.
According to Garland Police, the incident began around 3:30 p.m. on May 3 near the intersection of State Highway 66 and Dairy Road. The suspect, driving a green passenger car, collided with two other vehicles on the roadway, prompting all involved parties to pull into a nearby gas station at the southeast corner of the intersection.
What started as a traffic accident quickly escalated. At the gas station, the suspect began frantically trying to steal vehicles from the parking lot. Witnesses and surveillance footage reportedly show him checking door handles, forcing his way into parked cars, and briefly getting behind the wheel of at least one vehicle — none of which he could successfully drive away.
Undeterred, the man crossed Dairy Road on foot and moved into the parking lot of a convenience store on the southwest side of the intersection. Moments later, a white Chevrolet Impala pulled in carrying an adult male driver, two adult women, and several children — up to five, according to some reports.
As the driver of the Impala stopped and began to exit the vehicle, the suspect approached aggressively and attempted to take the car by force. A physical struggle broke out between the two men. During the confrontation, the Impala’s driver drew a handgun and shot the suspect.
The wounded man was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No one else inside the family vehicle or at the scene was injured.
Police have described the suspect as a Hispanic male, though his identity has not been publicly released as of Monday morning. The shooter, whose name has also been withheld, remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. Investigators are treating the case as a clear act of self-defense and defense of others. No charges have been filed against the driver.
Garland Police continue to review surveillance video from both the gas station and convenience store, along with witness statements and physical evidence. Additional details — including the suspect’s possible criminal history, motive, or toxicology results — have not yet been released.
In a state with some of the strongest self-defense laws in the country, including stand-your-ground provisions that apply to vehicles, authorities appear confident this was a justified use of force. For the family that found themselves suddenly targeted, the outcome was the only one that mattered: they walked away unharmed.
