Police said the driver acted in self-defense after a man tried to force his way into a car carrying children and other relatives.
GARLAND, Texas — A father fatally shot a suspected carjacker Sunday afternoon in Garland after police said the man tried to steal a white sedan while the driver’s family, including children, was still inside.
Garland police said the shooting followed a crash and a string of attempted carjackings near Highway 66 and Dairy Road. The driver who fired remained at the scene, cooperated with investigators and turned over his firearm. Police said they do not expect to file charges against him, calling the shooting an apparent act of self-defense. The suspected carjacker, whose name had not been released, was taken to a hospital and died there.
The incident began around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3, when police were called to a crash on Highway 66 near Dairy Road. Investigators said a green vehicle had hit two other vehicles before the driver stopped near a gas station. Garland police Lt. Pedro Barineau said the man then got out and began trying to force his way into other vehicles. “He crashed into two vehicles, parked in a gas station, and immediately began trying to force his way into other vehicles,” Barineau said.
Police said the man then crossed the street toward a nearby parking lot, where a white Chevrolet Impala was occupied by a family. Local reports described eight people connected to the vehicle, including children and adult women. Surveillance video showed the man moving toward the driver’s side as the father got out and tried to pull him away. During the struggle, children and other relatives ran from the sedan. Police said the suspected carjacker was unarmed, but was physically trying to enter the vehicle.
The video showed the father and the man fighting near the driver’s side before the family fled. The father later moved around the car with a gun drawn and fired at the suspect. Some local coverage reported that more than 10 shots were fired. Police said no family members or bystanders were injured. The suspected carjacker was struck and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers said the father stayed at the parking lot after the shooting and spoke with investigators.
Investigators had not released the suspected carjacker’s identity or a motive by the latest reports. Police said they were still reviewing the earlier crash, the attempted entries into other vehicles and the final confrontation at the Impala. Barineau said investigators were looking at the full sequence before closing the case. “As right now we’re looking at this as self-defense,” he said. “We have to look at the totality of the circumstances; there are three incidents total that occurred during this shooting.”
Witnesses described a fast-moving scene that spread fear across the busy commercial area. Tatiana Starks, a manager at Garland Smoke and Vape near the parking lot, said she saw the man trying to get into several vehicles before he crossed toward the family’s car. “You could definitely tell that he was not in his right state of mind,” Starks said. She said she was relieved the family was able to get away safely. Other witnesses said the area was quickly filled with police vehicles after the shots were fired.
The shooting took place in a mixed commercial corridor in Garland, a Dallas suburb where Highway 66 runs past gas stations, small shops and neighborhood businesses. The attempted carjacking drew wider attention because it was captured on surveillance video and because children were seen running from the vehicle before the gunfire. Police said the father’s actions were being reviewed under the circumstances of the threat, the attempted vehicle theft and the presence of passengers inside the car.
Local residents told reporters the incident was unsettling because it happened in daylight near stores and traffic. Taylor Stanfield, who lives in the area, said the situation felt close to home. “It’s definitely very concerning,” Stanfield said, adding that families are often outside in the neighborhood. He said the outcome could have been worse if the man had been able to drive away in a car with people still inside.
No charges had been filed against the father as of the latest police updates. Police said the investigation remained open while detectives reviewed surveillance footage, witness statements, the crash scene and the shooting scene. Authorities also were working to identify the dead man and notify relatives. The next major step is the completion of the police investigation and any final review by prosecutors.
The case stood Wednesday as a fatal attempted carjacking investigation with no other reported injuries and no expected charges against the driver who fired. Garland police said more information could be released after investigators confirm the suspect’s identity and finish reviewing the evidence.
Author note: Last updated May 6, 2026.