A Texas man shot and killed his partner’s ex-husband during a heated argument over an ongoing child custody dispute.
In a video released by the widow’s attorney, the accused, William "Kyle" Carruth is seen shooting the 54-year-old victim, Chad Read during a confrontation outside a home in the north-western city of Lubbock on Nov. 5, KCBD reported.
In the video, Chad, who was there to pick up his son he had with ex-wife Christina Read, is seen arguing with the woman after she told him the boy wasn’t home.
Carruth is heard telling Chad to get off his property before going inside the home and returning with a rifle.
As the men continue arguing, Carruth fires a shot in the ground towards Chad. They begin to wrestle as Chad tries to grab the gun.
Carruth is then seen firing two shots at Chad, killing him.
The video was released along with a petition filed by Chad’s widow, Jennifer Read, who is seeking custody of her late husband’s two boys, aged 9 and 14 from their mother.
“The mother of the children, Christina Read, has endangered the physical health and emotional well-being of the children by permitting them to be in the presence of the man that murdered their father,” Jennifer said in the affidavit.
“Christina Read and Kyle Carruth have been engaged in an ongoing affair, despite Kyle Carruth being married. On October 30, 2021, Chad Read informed Christina Read that he had evidence of her affair with Kyle Carruth and that he was going to go public with it. On November 5, 2021, after 4:00 p.m., myself and my minor son were physically present when Chad Read met with Christina Read at Kyle Carruth’s residence at 2100 90th St, Lubbock, Texas. We were there to pick up Chad’s youngest son. Chad was supposed to have custody of the child beginning at 3:15 pm, but Christina stated that she “wanted to see him” as her excuse to why she had not produced the child as ordered by the court at the time required.”
“I believe that Christina Read and Kyle Carruth engaged in a conspiracy to assault and/or murder Chad that day.”
“I recorded the shooting on my cell phone. During this entire incident, I didn’t realize that Kyle Carruth was holding and brandishing an actual firearm. At that time, I thought that it was some type of stun gun or paintball gun. Even when Kyle Carruth fired the shots, the sound was very muffled and not as loud as I now firearms to be. It wasn’t until I got to Chad on the ground that I realized that he had in fact been shot and that the weapon held by Kyle Carruth was a firearm,” Jennifer said.
However, Carruth’s lawyer, David Guinn, said his client acted in self-defense and the incident was a “justifiable homicide”.
“All Texans may lawfully brandish a firearm to protect themselves, their property, and their business,” Guinn told the station. “When Kyle did that, Chad Read advanced on him.”
“Everyone wishes there could have been an alternative solution and it never would have happened. It’s affecting him too,” Guinn added.
Carruth has been listed as a suspect in police reports, but no charges or arrests had been made.
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