Garland police say shooter won't face charges after fatal carjacking attempt

Investigators say driver acted in self-defense to protect children and passengers

A suspected carjacker is dead after a dramatic confrontation in a Garland parking lot, where police say a driver opened fire to protect passengers, including two small children, inside a targeted vehicle.

Garland police confirmed the shooter will not face charges, describing the incident as a case of self-defense.

Investigators say the situation unfolded Sunday afternoon after the suspect crashed into two vehicles and abandoned a green car at a nearby gas station. From there, police say he 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,” Lt. Pedro Barineau with the Garland Police Department said.

Authorities say the suspect then crossed the street into a nearby parking lot, where he approached a white car occupied by multiple people, including children.

“From there, he actually crossed the street to the parking lot on the other side of the street,” Barineau said.

Police say the suspect attempted to get inside the vehicle but was pulled back by the driver as a young boy ran for cover.

“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.

After a brief struggle, investigators say the driver, who was armed, moved to the passenger side of the vehicle and fired more than 10 rounds, striking the suspect. Witness video capturing the gunfire is now part of the investigation.

Police say the driver remained at the scene and turned over his weapon to officers.

“We are looking at this as a self-defense case,” Barineau said.

Investigators are also working to determine what led the suspect to act the way he did.

“We’re also looking into why this suspect did what he did,” Barineau said.

Nearby resident Taylor Standfield said he saw the aftermath and believes the driver acted instinctively to protect those inside the vehicle.

“I have three kids. I'm gonna do whatever it takes to keep them safe. That kind of stuff is split-second,” Standfield said.

Standfield said it’s difficult to imagine being in that situation.

“It's hard to imagine what it's even like being in that situations with the adrenaline and knowing that you have kids in your vehicle,” Standfield said.

All of the passengers in the targeted vehicle, including the children, were not injured.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.