Texas family out for revenge over vandalism, kill the wrong man - he drove the same type of car

[Demovictory9]

Police in Texas say four members of one family murdered an innocent man in a case of mistaken identity. The four were on the lookout for someone who had been vandalizing their property, and investigators say they chased the wrong man in their Houston-area neighborhood, reports KTRK.

Those accused are Joe Argueta, 19; his mother, Florinda, 39; his father, Luis, 45; and his uncle Margarito Alcantar, 29.

The victim is 29-year-old Eddie Clark III, who lived in the neighborhood and apparently drove the same type of car as the vandal, per the Katy Times. The family says that for weeks, someone had been damaging their home and vehicles, and they suspected a friend of the younger Argueta's former girlfriend. The vandal drove a black Dodge Charger, the Arguetas told investigators.

On Monday night, Clark drove his dark-colored Charger down their street, and the four family members gave chase in two separate vehicles. Police say Joe Argueta fired repeatedly at Clark's vehicle before it crashed into a tree. Clark got out and ran but collapsed, having been fatally shot, per the Washington Post.

"Seems like a tragic case of mistaken identity," wrote Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez in a Facebook post. All four face murder charges. “This is an example of taking the law into your hands,” a judge told Joe Argueta in a court appearance, per KTRK. “Any other harm or destruction to your own residence or home, repeatedly or otherwise, it doesn’t justify taking the law into your own hands and then mistaking the person.”

https://www.newser.com/story/306397/sheriff-man-killed-in-tragic-case-of-mistaken-identity.html?utm_source=part&utm_medium=uol&utm_campaign=rss_top

Deputies located Florinda and her son, Joe, at the scene. Florinda stated that she had filed multiple reports with HCSO regarding a person or persons damaging their home and vehicles. She indicated that the suspect was a teenage Hispanic male friend of her son’s former girlfriend that they suspected was responsible for the damage. In those reports, a black Dodge Charger was listed as the possible suspect vehicle. The Arguetas said that at about 11:30 p.m., Joe had spotted what he believed was the suspect vehicle driving in the neighborhood and the family had blocked in Clark’s gray Challenger with their own vehicles. Luis, armed with a pistol, and Alcantar, carrying a baseball bat, then approached the vehicle to confront the driver.

When Clark attempted to flee, Luis fired at the vehicle, striking it multiple times according to the HCSO press release. Clark was found by deputies outside of the vehicle and was found to have been shot. He was treated by Cy-Fair EMS at the scene and then sent via Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Clark was not known by the Arguetas and HCSO has received no indications that he was involved in the ongoing dispute between the family and Joe’s ex-girlfriend’s acquaintances.

Luis and Alcantar fled the scene before law enforcement’s arrival. Florinda was questioned at the scene and then released. Joe was arrested at the scene and transported to HCSO offices where he spoke with HCSO Homicide Unit investigators and provided a statement.

Joe Argueta is currently in custody and being held on $50,000 bond with a court date set for Thursday, May 20. Luis Argueta, Margarito Alcantar and Florinda Argueta remain at large and are wanted for murder after a review of nearby surveillance camera footage and witness statements led investigators to seek charges against them.

http://www.katytimes.com/stories/four-family-members-charged-in-murder-of-katy-area-man,3724

[llashram]

1. I just knew

the victim was an AA. Open season more and more, by all not AA, it seems

[malaise]

2. Same here because you see

we all look alike and we are dispensable people.. In reality this was cold blooded murder.

[joetheman]

4. We even look like Hispanic thugs to other Hispanics.

If your skin is any shade of brown, you are assumed to be first black, next Hispanic. In either case it is also assumed you are a criminal or guilty of something and a legitimate target to be shot and killed by anyone.

[llashram]

6. so true

for the most part. But I do also like "dispensable" as disposables in answer elsewhere here. This whole thing is to me, a conundrum. And agitated by others in our society. Keep them fighting each other and we...can have...it all?

[malaise]

8. Of course

[marble falls]

3. Welcome to Texas and the deep South. And the rest of the nation anymore.

[ansible]

5. There's a lot of racism among hispanics too that no one wants to talk about

[marble falls]

7. There's a lot of racism on all sides, period. In this one case the color was black: the car was ....

... black. They were looking for another Hispanic. All they saw was a black Challenger. They's have shot my grandmother if it were her in that car.

Racism is dirty and its everywhere.

[malaise]

9. And while you're at it

IN India as well

[LanternWaste]

12. Here's your chance...

Not that I infer salivation on your part by any stretch.

So talk about it.

Racism among Hispanics.

Tell us about it.

Educate us,

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. Tragic case of mistaken identity?

No, it was a conscienceless case of murder. They were planning to kill the person they thought was doing the vandalism. Murder. Hope they all serve long jail time.

[Demovictory9]

16. agreed

[Vinca]

11. How does someone justify lethal force when the crime is vandalism?

Poor guy. Talk about being around this crazy, felonious family at the wrong time.

[tanyev]

13. Um, even if they'd killed the 'right' person that's still an unjustifiable murder.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

14. Indeed

[MagickMuffin]

15. Next Door apt is filled with paranoid people and 1st response is git ya gunz, phew phew

An example:

Poster 1: OMG I just saw someone walking down the street they look suspicious.


Poster 2:Well ya better go git your gunz, lock & load.



Very scared and fearful people to say the least.