This fellow sounds remarkably cool and collected ... watched them exit and held the high ground with a rifle. He did the world a favor and implemented a permanent deterrent on at least one of the thugs. I just hope he can make it through without any charges.

My guess about what happened is that the criminals pulled up alongside and shot at him and yelled for him to pull over ... he assumed they wanted the boat. That is only a guess, though.

He might have accidently cut in front of them which could be the case with a boat in the back obstructing his view, and they didn't like it, and pulled up next to him, and fired shots at him like the wackos do here in S.A. from time to time.

If he had holes in his truck to prove his story he should be alright.

He said they pulled off and he was on the overpass stopped, and he saw their windo roll down which he took that they were going to shoot at him again, so that was when he took them out.

Cops let him off the hook, but a lawyer will probably eat him alive, but his fast thinking about fearing them stealing the boat just might work in his favor.

Hope he gets through this alright, as I feel his pain.

You think you might go "a little off kilter" if someone opens fire on you while you are driving down the highway on your way home ?

Only regret I have with this story is that 3 of the vermin are still alive. Glad he at least removed 1 from the gene pool.

http://blog.drivinglaws.org/2009/04/09/houston-texas-fatal-shooting-at-9400-north-freeway/

I don't think the "steal the boat" theory washes. Just too odd. Either the shooters took pot shots for no reason, or there was some road rage going on and he got the last say. Not that I have a problem with him shooting them.

Pull up the intersection on maps.live.com. He had the serious high ground and was in no danger of fire from the car when they stopped. His position towered over the gas station. I doubt he'll stand a chance if this goes to court. I'd almost guarentee a Grand Jury will indict him. Unfortunate.

No doubt I would. There's just something here that don't seem right.

On another note. I found another website that showed a pic of the Grand Prix. The trunk was almost in the back seat. So there was some contact between the perp's car and something else. One can only assume it's the "victim's" truck. What's that mean? Maybe nothing, maybe something. I certainly don't know.

If he had a CHL, he would have learned in class something about assessing danger, I'd think. If, he had the "extreme high ground", there might not have been the danger that warrants pulling a rifle from behind the seat and shooting at them more. And we'll also assume the rifle was loaded, right? I dunno 'bout many of y'all, but any rifle in my truck is unloaded. Unless of course I'm thinking I might need it in a hurry. Like on the farm, or at the lease. Definitely not even in the truck when I'm goin' fishin'.

Don't get me wrong....I'm very glad it turned out the way it did. I wish he'd have gotten every one of them. But he was way too prepared, if one can be. And to me, it sounds like this guy MIGHT have went a little beyond what MIGHT have been necessary.

Ultimately, none of us were there though. So we'll just have to watch this play out in the courts and news.

I bet he gets raked over the coals!


Jay

Psyco... every gun I have is fully loaded! I dont care if it's in my truck, on my belt or by my front door. An unloaded gun is just a club.

It sounds like these guys were shooting at random people on a freeway and just happened to shoot at the wrong SPORTSMAN!! He took action and some idiot died for being STUPID. Good for that guy! I love TEXAS!!

A weapon can still be fully loaded and not have a round chambered.

I don't how many people have ever had to think of using a gun on someone but I have. One time I was at my apartment and some guy tried to kick in my door. He ran away when he heard the ching-ching of my shotgun. (They should make that sound for a burglar alarm.) I am glad the other guy ran away because I really don't want to kill anybody. It was a very scary situation and my adrenaline was really flowing. I bet the other guy's was too.

It sounds like he was trying to read the license plate of the other car with the scope on his rifle. If they rolled down their window and the guy thought he saw a gun, I don't blame him for shooting. Specially if he already been shot at.

I can dig that. But....When I haul a rifle around in my truck, it is usually unloaded, unless I'm at the farm or on the lease where it might actually be needed. But then again, at that point it ain't tucked away behind the seat either. Now the pistol, she always stays loaded. Because she'll be the first thing I grab if in danger.

At home, I have a kid, and must practice safe firearm storage. Before that, yeah I was like you. I kept stuff loaded all around the house. But I've had to retrain myself on that one.


I still say there's more to this whole story than we're hearing. It'll all come out in the wash though. And I still stand behind the victim, until I have a reason not too.


Jay

Wonder why these two parties would have firearms at this disposal.

Uh . . . Why not?
I assumed you were referring to the victim and the perpetrators who shot first?

If you meant the perpetrators, you have a point!

"If guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns."

No matter the outcome, this guy (the boater) is going to go through a world of hurt. This point was brought up in my CHL class. When you choose to use deadly force against someone, the situation does not end when the casings hit the ground.

The shooter (even if justified) will have to retain a lawyer, usually at great expense, even if the grand jury no-bills him, because the dead man's survivors will surely come after him in a wrongful-death suit, and the wounded thugs will probably also try to sue him. He will be severely financially hurt, and his boat will probably go away to pay his legal bills.

I don't know all the details of this case (even after trying to read the sadly incompetent reporting), and certainly don't fault the guy for defending himself...I have been robbed at gunpoint, and wouldn't hesitate to defend myself or my loved ones if in imminent danger...but your whole world will definitely change once that trigger is pulled.

i like your style