Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
An armed robbery suspect was shot and killed Wednesday night after trying to rob a man and woman in their driveway.
According to Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier, the incident happened around 11:30 p.m. on the 1500 block of Leroy Street.
The couple was returning home when they were approached by a black male. Collier said the suspect approached the driver’s side and attempted to rob the male victim first. The suspect then went to the passenger side. The robber shot the male victim when he approached his side of the vehicle, according to Collier.
“[The suspect] was able to retrieve the purse from the female victim in the robbery,” Collier said. “The male victim was able to produce his firearm … and then engaged in gunfire in an effort to protect both his life and the female’s life and killed the subject.”
The suspect, who has not been identified by the coroner, was dead on the scene. According to Dallas County Coroner Alan Dailey, the suspect had multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators believe the suspect was in his late teens or early 20s.
The male victim, who was shot by the suspect, has treated for his injury and released.
Collier said the suspect was killed in what appears to be an act of self-defense. The male victim is a convicted felon. Felons by law are not allowed to be in possession of a firearm. Collier said the male victim has not been charged.
“We have consulted with the district attorney, and upon his guidance, we will present it to the grand jury, and the grand jury will make that determination,” Collier said.
“I want to point out that it is not okay for a felon to have a firearm. At this point the investigation pretty clearly indicates it was a robbery and the male victim returning fire possibly saved both his and the female’s lives.”
Collier said the department has seen a recent rise of criminal activity in the area lately.
“We have been working that particular area and particular community very hard,” he said. “I have personally spent two days patrolling that area, and it’s just unfortunate that this happened there.”
Collier said the area will see an increased police presence.
“We have no reason to believe they were singled out other than it being just a crime of opportunity,” he said.
The Times-Journal is working to get the identity of the suspect.