Truck Driver Shoots Vandal after Tires were Slashed

A truck driver who was himself the victim of an act of vandalism has been arrested after he chased down and shot the suspect. According to the Houston Police Department, a driver of an 18-wheeler driver decided to pull off the road to get some sleep in the cab of his rig that he had parked on Langham Way at W. Little York. The driver was awakened at approximately 10:00 p.m. when he heard some noise and a hissing sound. The driver looked outside of his rig to see a man slashing his tires with a knife. The driver pulled out his concealed handgun and went to confront the tire slasher, who took off running. The truck driver fired a warning shot into the air, and then took after the suspect. When the driver caught up to the alleged tire slasher, he shot the suspect in his posterior. The injured suspect was transported to Ben Taub Hospital and is listed in stable condition. The truck driver, who was doing what he felt was necessary in protecting his property, was charged with aggravated assault. Police said the driver was the wrong when he made the mistake of chasing down the suspect and shooting him, rather than waiting for law enforcement. Officials say that several other big rigs which were parked along the street also had slashed tires. It is easy for someone to want to take the law into their own hands when confronted with a situation such as this one. The charge of aggravated assault is more serious than that of assault and battery. Aggravated assault can be defined as the physical actions that cause serious bodily harm or an assault made with a dangerous weapon such as a gun, knife or other deadly weapon. A common example is assault with a deadly weapon, or assault with intent to carry out another. Statistics have shown that 64% of all violent crime in the United States is some form of aggravated assault. This adds up to nearly a million incidents annually. If you or a loved one has a personal injury claim or has been the victim of aggravated assault, give us a call. Our experienced legal professionals will discuss your case with you and tell you what your personal injury lawsuit may be worth. Expenses such as medical costs, rehabilitative care, and loss of time at work as well as pain and suffering could be recovered in a civil lawsuit. You have rights. We are here to help you and have been successfully representing our clients in the Houston area for many years. Your initial consultation is free and there is no obligation.