Police said the shooting appeared to be self-defense and charges were not expected.
GARLAND, Texas — A Garland father shot and killed a man Sunday afternoon after police said the man tried to carjack a vehicle with members of a family of eight still inside near Highway 66 and Dairy Road.
Garland police said the man had crashed into two vehicles before moving through a parking lot and trying to force his way into other cars. The confrontation ended after a struggle at the family’s vehicle, where surveillance video showed the father fighting to stop the man from driving away.
Lt. Pedro Barineau said officers were already responding to the crash when more calls came in about the driver’s actions in the parking lot. “While we were responding to the scene, we received more information that the driver of that car had exited and immediately began physically trying to get into other vehicles,” Barineau said.
Police said most of the family was inside the vehicle when the man entered it and tried to leave. Video showed the father outside the vehicle near the passenger side during a struggle that lasted close to a minute. The man was then shot while seated in the driver’s seat, police said.
Investigators said no weapon was found on the man, whose name had not been released because police were still working to identify him. Barineau said the father did not know whether the man was armed during the struggle. Police said the man was using force as he tried to steal multiple vehicles.
Tatiana Starks, manager of Garland Smoke and Vape near the scene, said she saw the man moving between vehicles and recorded some of his actions on her phone. “You could definitely tell that he was not in his right state of mind,” Starks said. She said she stopped recording when the man began walking toward her side of the street.
Police said they do not expect to file charges against the father. “It seemed to be self-defense,” Barineau said. “It kind of all happened like really fast.” No members of the family were reported injured.
Investigators remained focused Monday on confirming the man’s identity and completing the review of surveillance video, witness accounts and physical evidence from the parking lot.
Author note: Last updated May 5, 2026.