A Texas father was forced to make a split-second decision to protect his family of eight — including a baby — after an illegal immigrant from Mexico allegedly tried to violently steal their vehicle in broad daylight, according to police. Because apparently terrorizing families at a gas station is now just another Sunday afternoon activity for some people.
The shocking incident unfolded around 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Garland, Texas, after police responded to a crash involving a driver identified as 30-year-old Jose Ramirez. Authorities say Ramirez caused an accident involving two other vehicles before parking at a nearby gas station and attempting to forcibly steal multiple cars in the area.
When those attempts failed, Ramirez reportedly ran across the street to a convenience store parking lot, where a father sat inside a vehicle with his family.
Surveillance footage obtained by FOX 4 Dallas captured the terrifying moment Ramirez allegedly yanked the father out of the driver’s seat while trying to force his way into the vehicle. As panic erupted, one small child could be seen running from the back seat while the rest of the family scrambled to escape the chaos.
Police said Ramirez managed to get inside the driver’s seat and shut the doors. At that moment, the father fired shots from the passenger side of the vehicle in an effort to stop the attack.
Ramirez was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities confirmed that no other injuries were reported.
The incident serves as another reminder of what can happen when law-abiding families are suddenly forced to defend themselves against violent criminals. Thankfully, this father acted quickly, and his family survived a situation that could have ended far worse. In Texas, protecting your family still means something — and millions of Americans are grateful for that.