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A laptop thief in Texas learned the hard way that not everyone is willing to just file a police report and move on. A now-viral dash cam video shows a man sprinting out of a Starbucks with someone else’s laptop—only to be followed by the owner, gun in hand, firing shots in a busy parking lot.
Some called the gun owner a vigilante. Others called him a hero. Colion Noir saw something deeper: a collision between law, morality, and cold reality.
According to Noir, this incident boils down to one uncomfortable truth—thieves know the system is rigged in their favor. They count on good people being legally powerless to fight back. And they’re usually right.
But this wasn’t just about property. As Noir points out, your laptop today holds your entire digital life. Bank info, business files, family photos, passwords—all of it. When a crook snatches that device, it’s not just a theft, it’s a personal invasion with lasting damage.
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Still, as satisfying as it might feel to draw down and stop the guy, Noir warns that reality doesn’t always reward instinct. Texas law might sound friendly to gun owners, but it comes with strings attached. You can use deadly force to stop certain property crimes—but only under specific conditions. It has to be nighttime, the crime has to involve immediate flight, and you have to reasonably believe that non-lethal force won’t work.
This happened in broad daylight. No visible weapon, just a grab and go. So even in Texas, this guy might be in serious legal trouble.
Noir doesn’t condone the shooting—but he understands it. He knows the emotional gut punch of being violated. He also knows what it’s like to watch criminals operate with zero fear of consequences. The real kicker, though? Even if the shooter felt justified, and even if Texas law technically supports him, it won’t stop a DA from pressing charges. And it won’t stop a jury from seeing him as the aggressor.
Noir says it best: the moment you draw your gun, you’d better be ready to explain every move you made. Because from that second forward, you’re not just defending your property—you’re defending your freedom.
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It’s a dangerous legal game. Run after a thief with your gun drawn and you might go from victim to defendant. And in the most twisted irony, if the thief turns and shoots you, he could claim self-defense.
That’s how fast things spiral.
The takeaway? Know the law. Train your judgment like you train your trigger finger. And protect yourself after the fact as much as you do during the encounter.
One more thing: Noir pointed out that he based this video on a single dash cam clip. If more details come out, the story might change. But his message stands. This kind of scenario happens all the time. And gun owners need to understand the stakes before they act.
Bottom line: the right to self-defense is sacred—but it doesn’t mean the justice system is always on your side. So be smart, be trained, and stay protected.
Because as Noir reminds us—everyone’s pro-gun until the headlines say otherwise.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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Also, if he is a CCW holder, why is he not aware of his surroundings? I would bet the thief was in there but not ordering or drinking a drink. I bet he was scoping out people who were not attentive to their surroundings.
This is pretty clear cut to me.
The guy put the general public at risk by shooting at the fleeing felon. The felon deserved to be stopped. Some might even say he deserved to get shot. But the simple fact is that he had a piece of property in his hands and the victim chose to put the lives of everyone around him at risk.
It may be legal in TX. But it is certainly not ethically justified.
and what happens to the next victim, injury or death?
Not the victim’s call. As a CITIZEN, he is limited in his response by the law.
as a citizen who was wronged it is his call.
It’s not necessarily ‘just a laptop’.
Could be that he had his entire life accessible through it and was saved an eternity of time and buttload of personal expense due to the almost certain identity-theft which was sure to follow the initial crime.
Nope… not JUST a device!
WE need to change the laws so they protect the victim not the criminals.
The consideration is not for the criminal. The problem with something like this is that the victim is putting the general public at risk in his effort to stop the theft of his property.
If we knew 100% that he would hit the thief and not miss, then it would be a closer choice. But given the fact that it was broad daylight in a mall parking lot. It’s just wrong. He put the pubic at risk of being shot in an attempt to retrieve his property.
It’s got nothing to do with the criminal having rights he doesn’t deserve. It’s got to do with the general public and its right to not be put at risk over a laptop.
Great post, thanks
I always carry, but would hope I would not end a life over an object. My intention while carrying is to protect my life and those around me no matter how mad a situation might make me.
If i’m on the jury prosecuting the victim, the guy who had his laptop stolen, NOT GUILTY!
I’m a CCW holder, all that means is I really pay attention to how laws are written and this one is simple, you can’t shoot a scumbag in the back, even if he has a gun in his hand! That and firing in a busy parking lot will get you in trouble everytime. Now for the other side of the coin, if i’m on the jury I won’t care if it’s eleven to one, i’m sticking with not guilty….
a good way to drain the swamp!
Morally justified, but not legally.
Did he actually hit him, like in the back? You can understand how this happens. People are sick and tired of being the victim. Sad thing is, if he hit him, and he survived it, and the courts rule against the shooter, the thief POS could sue him and end up owning his house!
I believe this is justified in every way possible… Except for the law lol. Imagine what this country would be like if we got rid of all thieves!