Town
Mayor's Son Shot Dead In Christmas Home Invasion
A homeowner in
Texas fatally shot a Christmas Eve intruder who authorities later identified as
the town mayor's son, police say.
Joshua Slaven, 31, the son
of Cedar Hill Mayor Rob Franke, was pronounced dead one minute before midnight
on Dec. 24, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Slaven allegedly broke into the Cedar Hill home of Gareth Long,
located not far from where his parents live, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
Just before
midnight on Christmas Eve, Gareth Long woke to a noise outside his bedroom
door. He got out of bed, grabbed a handgun, and went to investigate... Several
times, Long told the man he was armed and asked the intruder to leave. When he
wouldn't, Long fired.
Long was questioned
by police but not arrested. His lawyer, Chris Knox, says Long's actions were
justified under Texas' castle doctrine.
“It’s very
unfortunate that Mr. Long was forced into a position of having to defend
himself, his wife and his home from a nighttime intruder,” Knox told the
Morning News. “Nobody ever asks to be placed in such a life-threatening
position, but Mr. Long’s actions were absolutely justified and completely
protected under Texas law.”
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