A peeping Tom got more than he bargained for in Harris County, Texas, last week when a mother and father armed with handguns confronted him outside their young daughter’s window.
The girl had told them previously that she saw someone outside her window, but they dismissed her complaints until they found a man, drunk and touching himself, in their yard around 10 pm Sunday, according to local media.
What happened next is a case study in how a situation like this can go from bad to worse.
The armed couple, who both hold licenses to carry concealed firearms, attempted to detain the man after they found him outside. He refused to comply with their order to lie down on the ground and instead walked across the street to a gas station.
Instead of calling the police from their home, the couple, still carrying handguns, followed the man to the gas station. While the husband went inside to ask the clerk to call 911, his wife tried to hold the peeping Tom at gunpoint.
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With the husband out of arm’s reach, the suspect wrestled the gun away from the wife and pointed it at her. When the husband emerged from the store and saw what had happened, he fired his weapon and shot the man three times.
The peeping Tom was transported to the hospital in critical but stable condition, according to a media report on June 28.
The case has been referred to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for a grand jury review. Officials have not released the names of the parties involved.
It is legal in Texas to make a “citizen’s arrest” by detaining someone until police arrive, according to an analysis by a Houston-area outlet. But the arresting party must see the suspect committing a felony or a “breach of the peace,” which would seem to apply in this case.
SEE ALSO: Texas Homeowner Uses Rifle to Defend Kids from Three Home Intruders
However, a spokesman for the Houston Police Department recommends keeping tabs on the suspect and leaving the actual arrest to law enforcement. If the suspect is actively putting others in danger, the spokesman said the witness must make a “judgment call.”
This isn’t the first peeping Tom story to come out of Houston in recent weeks. In February, a mom went viral after she was caught on video tackling a man accused of looking into her daughter’s bedroom. Much like the couple in this case, she was trying to keep him from getting away.
“First instinct was just to make sure he didn’t go any further,” Phyllis Pena told local media.
“The peeping Tom was transported to the hospital in critical condition, but has resumed touching himself.”
I find it strange that the husband went into the station to have them call 911 while his wife was left alone to hold the suspect at bay. Obviously the wife wasn’t willing to pull the trigger if she allowed this Perv to get close enough to put hands on her, then on top of that she gets man handled for the gun making things worse for anyone around. Once the Perv left their property, they should have kept eyes on while calling the cops. You don’t follow the loser to a gas station, say hey sweetie why don’t you stay with the Pervert while I go inside and ask them to call 911. I mean what could possibly go wrong? If they are charged it should be for being stupid . Whole thing is strange
Would have dropped him where he stood….it was dark no way to tell what gun he was playing with heh-heh
Officer I was in fear for my life I thought he was trying to pull a gun. Sad face sad face
Ok tough guy…big hero…IDIOT!!
I don’t know about anyone else, but I love happy endings.
There is no way in hell I would retreat and let him go. Being hardwired the way this dad is he would have never walked off my property and I wouldn’t have shot him either. I would have taken my solid steel 9mm and beat him in the head repeatedly until I felt gratified. Right or wrong some things in life are worth going to jail over. And where I live at in Missouri I may never have been charged. Thankfully in this state we do not have to retreat and wait for the law to do the job we could do.
In fear of life or serious bodily harm to you or your loved ones.
If his hand is near his belt he dies.
Nice takedown, Mom!! Well done!!!
Pervs like this DON’T travel in groups! They don’t bring a friend! And a gun is PERFECT for stopping them because it puts them in the GROUND! “Pepper Gel” or WTH that may be is only going to INFURIATE the SOB and cause grief for anyone else who gets it on them! “geez, THINK”!
Put the perv in HELL where he belongs!
I think it’s a very poor judgment to follow the perpetrator who’s on armed that’s leaving your property after they’re no longer a threat
This is where the police are better equipped legally to follow through a camera and even maybe a die Marker, If you thought ahead of time to have something like this
If you thought ahead of time to have something like this
As other people have pointed out holding somebody at bay with a firearm while waiting for the police put you in danger
As other people have pointed out holding somebody at bay with a firearm while waiting for the police put you in danger
It is not worth putting your safety or your life in danger in order to do the kind of job at the police are paid for and have legal standing to act upon
Agree Michael C. Once the threat leaves your property, it’s time to put your firearm away and call the police. This is why going to a good license to carry class is needed. They explain the laws. While I would want to do the same thing with the creep, the home owners were wrong to follow the pervert off of their property. This is Harris County and I’m pretty sure they’ll be charged.
There’s nothing to do with the explanation of laws… I personally wouldn’t need that explained to me. And if you need it explain to you then you probably shouldn’t be carrying in the first place. Down with the permit system.
While I agree it is a better idea to call the cops and not chase, you have to remember this guy is a serial offender. Their daughter has seen him before. Imagine calling the police and the police not getting there in time to arrest this guy. It’s actually the likely scenario. Now the daughter and the parents have to live in fear for I wouldn’t know how long. The mystery of what his intentions were and what they could lead to would haunt them.
Finally, someone with a functioning brain posting a comment…most are truly ignorant types, the typical Trump follower, inbred with an IQ equal to their shoe size!!
Why does the left STILL focus on the previous president? You know what? I see plenty on the left displaying ignorance at best if not straight up corruption. Let one of trumps kids even now that he’s out of office try to get away with 10% of the crap hunter Biden has and how his daddy has covered up for him then we can talk! You’re as ignorant as your own bias is towards a trump supporter with an equal IQ!
Congratulations. You are the winner of the most inane, stupid, off topic comment award. You and your family of deranged Trump Syndrome dolts, should be very proud of that award.
Once the perv was off the property, was the time to put the guns away. Call the cops, yes. Follow at a safe distance, maybe.
But now your life was put in danger, you shot worthless POS for what will be a misdemeanor , and if he lives you will probably be sued (and lose)….. and may be charged for ?
Good case of what to do and not to do. They left thire daughter defenseless. What if the creep had an accomplice? Did both parents have to follow the pervert accross the street? Wouldnt it have been better for mom to have the camera phone running? Lastly a firearm is a poor way to detain someone that refuses to comply.That puts him in control and you having to decide to shoot an apparently unarmed creep.This is why deploying pepper gel would have been a better idea in this case with a firearm backup. I know Im monday morning quarterbacking but geez: Think people.