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Crime

‘Deadly Force’: TX Trooper Kills 2 During Car Chase With Vehicle Suspected of Carrying Illegals

Oct. 26, 2012 7:21am Billy Hallowell

Texas State Trooper Shoots, Kills 2 Men in Alleged Illegal Filled Vehicle

Photo Credit: Texas Department of Public Safety

MCALLEN, Texas (TheBlaze/AP) — Three people were found wounded, two fatally, in a vehicle that was fired upon by a Texas state trooper in a helicopter. Those in the vehicle were suspected of being — or carrying — illegal immigrants.

The incident happened Thursday afternoon near the South Texas border with Mexico near the town of La Joya (HOY’-yah), about 70 miles northwest of Brownsville. The Monitor has more about how the event unfolded:

The pursuit began after a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden tried to pull over a vehicle suspected of smuggling immigrants Thursday afternoon along FM 2221.

A DPS helicopter was called in to assist in the pursuit and a sharpshooter opened fire on the evading vehicle — a policy permitted by the agency, two law enforcement sources not authorized to comment on the investigation said.

DPS troopers are the only law enforcement in the Rio Grande Valley region permitted to open fire during chases.

Various agencies — Border Patrol, La Joya police, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office — were present at the desolate, rural area alongside DPS well into the night. Authorities set up blockades at least a mile out from the scene.

After dark, a red pickup truck with no apparent damage — except a blown, rear driver’s-side tire — was towed away from the area where police were working.

Katherine Cesinger (SEHS’-ihn-jur) of the Texas Department of Public Safety says a DPS aircraft was helping a state game warden in a high-speed pursuit when the DPS officer on the aircraft opened fire.

“We do not want to speculate on any other issues at this time and have no further information,” Cesinger wrote in an e-mail following the incident.

She says two people from the vehicle died, one was injured and six others were arrested. She called the shooting “an enforcement action” but declined to say whether police caused the deaths and injuries. She says the Texas Rangers are investigating and no other information was available.

Questions surround why deadly force was used during the chase, specifically considering that at least one source claims the men weren’t armed.

“This is going to get big really, really fast. You have a law enforcement official shooting at an unarmed alien,” explained one local law enforcement source. “This is not an excuse for deadly force.”

An investigation is ongoing.

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Comments (143)

ellietoo
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:53am
Maybe it’s time to just enforce the immigration laws instead of pretending that they do not exist. If the border is closed no one will be chasing possible suspects with or without guns. There are around 20 million American citizens that are out of work. Do we really need illegals in our work force or on our welfare roles?

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All Pro
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:51am
The pursuit began after a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden tried to pull over a vehicle suspected of smuggling immigrants Thursday afternoon along FM 2221.

URM….they opened fire without knowing who was in the vehicle. How many children did they kill? Are we next???
Think about it. They are out of control.

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- Tex Expatriate
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 9:06am
  You moron. Of course they knew what kind of makeup of people were in the vehicle. What they also knew was that the driver refused to pull over. When all the facts are released you’ll find out that the driver, at least, was a criminal of one kind or another, and got the others shot. It’s a shame there are so many sissies in the rest of the United States.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 9:15am
  So if some OTM (Other than Mexicans) come across the border & have children in the vehicle, we are suppose to sit on our hands?
  
  They get a free pass to some city center where they can disappear.
  
  After all spike strips might cause the vehicle to flip & hurt the children. So we are left with … sitting on our hands.
  
  Report this comment
- lordjosh
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 9:18am
  @ Tex
  Your the moron. What jury convicted these people again? Who was the sovereign who made the complaint for which these public servants were assisting? None. Not stopping when police say stop is not a crime!
- TX_CHL
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:09am
  ALL PRO, get a hold of yourself. No need to be hysterical.
  
  Report this comment
- 22_year_old_conservative
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:11am
  @peasantjosh
  Hmmm violation of international borders. Entering illegally into a sovereign country. Why don’t you try that in any other country on earth. Russia? Death or prison. China? Death or prison. Iran? Death or prison and torture. Germany? Prison and expulsion. France? Prison and expulsion. India? Prison and expulsion. Are you seeing a pattern here? How about countries in the America’s? Cuba? Death or prison. Venezuela? Death or prison. Mexico? Prison and expulsion. Canada? Prison and expulsion.
  
  So why should the U.S. be the only country in the world that doesn’t enforce it’s own borders with all neccisary force?
  
  Report this comment
- FreeUsAll
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:11am
  Out of control. Law enforcement killed people due to non-compliance, with no due process? No more courts… no more justice… law enforcement has become judge, jury, and executioner. Welcome to your police state, sheeple. I’ll sit back now while you slander those of us who are speaking out, all while doing so to protect your ever-shrinking paradigm about Amerika!
  
  Report this comment
- Make My Day
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:16am
  Red light on top of car means stop, what about that do you not understad.
  
  Report this comment
- lordjosh
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:55am
  From the article
  
  “The pursuit began after a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden tried to pull over a vehicle suspected of smuggling immigrants Thursday afternoon along FM 2221.”
  
  22-year-old- con says
  “Hmmm violation of international borders. Entering illegally into a sovereign country.”
  
  So, like the cops, you are judge, jury and executioner.
  The article makes absolutely no claim that the victims did anything wrong. I challenge any of you to show me the law that states a sovereign human being must halt to the order of a public servant.
  
  Report this comment
- lordjosh
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 11:11am
  @1001000
  
  “They didn’t shoot into the vehicle. They shot the tire out. If they had an accident afterward and two people died, oh well. It was a good shoot. Two illegals down. How many millions to go?”
  
  From article “However, law enforcement sources said troopers found three people shot inside once the smuggler’s vehicle stopped along Farm-to-Market Road 2221″
  
  Report this comment
- hidden_lion
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 11:16am
  001-
  they did shoot into the vehicle. They killed two of the passengers, and they shot out the tire. Shooting the tire OK, shooting the people not so OK.
  
  Report this comment
- Elena2010
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 2:18pm
  Spike strips? HA! The bad guys use spikes of their own to disable law enforcement vehicles. I’ve seen them. They look like jacks on steroids. The bad guys get chased and start dumping out these metal tire destroyers that are roughly 6 inches in diameter w/multiple spikes on all sides. And they do NOT care if civilians get injured in the process.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 6:46pm
  Caltrops, metal spikes for pursuing LE. Holy mackerel but I would rather have 1 real Texan female with me in a two-way live fire range than 30 of you mealy mouthed arm chair quarter back illegal supporting wankers on any given day.
  
  Report this comment
cal_105
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:42am
Remember we don’t know all the facts of the case yet. The DPS can and will open fire on any felon fleeing from arrest, or who has escaped from custody, or if they feel that their life or any other life is in danger. In a chase, they are alway the agency that does not coudle the fleeing vehicle or occupants. Unlike many local agencies who have many restrictions on chases.

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- hidden_lion
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 11:29am
  so DPS is above the constitution and doesn’t require the same restrictions the rest of the depts. have to follow? so the DPS is the state of Texas’s hit squad. I thought Texans were a freedom loving people, I guess I was wrong.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil-Dot
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 12:06pm
  I agree with Hidden Lion. Texans always run their mouths about how they are all like Davey Crockett with coon skin caps on and all. About how they are free and how they adhere to the constitution. The govt and cops in Texas are no different than any other police state type enterprise. Now, I don’t like illegal aliens in my country at all, but this seems like a bit much. The bottom line is this, all govts and yes, Texas too, are more interested in keeping the racket going and lining their pockets. If they have to gun down people to do it, then they will. They are really no different from a mafia type crime syndicate. Basically the same thing. But they do it under the disguise of “law”.
  
  Report this comment
T-2
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:25am
survival skill 101…don’t run from the popo.

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- chips1
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:46am
  It’s possible that the tire was shot out. That would be a good shot. The driver was above the speed limit and should be held to account for his actions. The story doesn’t have any real answers and my post just makes wild guesses.
  
  Report this comment
- ScreaminEagle
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:46am
  Illegal is as illegal does. When caught don’t try to out run a chopper. When the word gets out this stuff may stop some attempts in the future. Only the hardcore banditos will attempt it.
  
  Report this comment
- U.N.hater
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 9:02am
  Wonder who had my post taken down? Not like i said anything different than what else is being said on here.
  
  Report this comment
TheMajority
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:06am
Anybody can be said to be a “suspect” in a voilent offense, but that does not mean they are not due to a day in court?

I am noticing our police have been using deadly force when it is not needed more often, and could be the beginnings of a dangerous culture. The van could have been “pitted” (run off the road by another vehicle) or spike stripped.

Is the day comming, when all there is needed to Kill people, is an accusation or an ounce of defiance? Looks like that day may be here, as officers seem to be given more leway to kill citizens.

Officer, where does this lead? Who among us—are next?

This—is not the USA anymore.

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- Fubared
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:16am
  Could have been Hamas with dirty suitcases for all you know. We should meet them at the border with ebt cards and start the SS bennies on the spot.
  
  Report this comment
- omgfolks
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:10am
  Our so called police are really just Paramilitary units , load for anything, grenades, machine guns, sniper rifles, you name it these guys are running around beckoning for a reason to unleash the arsenal they carry. The use of a Helicopter to shoot at a SPEEDER because that is the only thing clearly established is unwarranted. Police are train to use the BUZZ WORDS,”in fear of my life” in fear of those around me” have you ever seen a police altercation where these phrases have not been deployed to protect the officer from criminal prosecution? Americans need to wake up, we are slowly and methodiclly being stripped of or rights, guns are always on the goverments minds to take away, so when will it stop? Media blast the news of how bad peope are, how anyone and everyone may be a terrorist, but are they really? Given the polulation and history of man ther has alwasy been some bad elements, but now it get sensationalized governered by an agenda to control the American People by force, to scare them into submission. Beware out there….
  
  Report this comment
- FreeUsAll
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:14am
  @THEMAJORITY
  Well stated. I fear you are correct.
  
  Report this comment
- bobfrommosinee
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:34am
  But first they need to be in Court, If they refuse to be taken into custody for that Day in Court, That is on them.
  
  Report this comment
- hidden_lion
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 11:23am
  Fubared-
  could have been a group of nuns sightseeing as well. The point is, unless they DPS knew for a fact they were drug cartel thugs or jihadis they should not have used deadly force. The DPS was in no danger, they could have followed them for miles and got them at their destination, they could have “gasp” put up a road block…It is nice to see that all of you so called patriots are happy to let the police shoot on a whim or accusation. Notice the constitution doesn’t provide for killing people for crossing the border. Stop the dirt bag business’s from hiring the illegals and you stop the illegals. No need for fences, drones and helicopter door gunners.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 6:26pm
  Yeah, if only we could regulate air better, they wouldn’t feel the need to jump borders and drive like nuns on roads they didn’t build and carrying zero insurance. Sure. If you garner the attention of a helo, you have stepped on your crank. Send your union dues to LaRaza this lay period. No hable bs esse.
  
  Report this comment
- Elena2010
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:20pm
  Lion, I have driven that road they were on. It ends up going thru Edinburg where the university is. It’s quite congested only a few miles fm where the ultimate stop occurred. So stopping them in brush country is better than following them into town.
  
  They had 8 or 9 people jammed into the cab of a pickup. This was no sightseeing tour or other “gee, officer, I’m lost” situation.
  
  Until you’ve lived on the border, you may wish to hold your uninformed opinion to yourself. Where they were stopped is only 5 miles at most fm the river (border).
  
  And as one pointed out — you stop when the cop tells you to. Otherwise, he’s going to chase you down, and you could get hurt or dead because of it.
  
  It turns out these were OTMs. Update on the story fm local paper (http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_84fce6b8-1fb8-11e2-a15f-001a4bcf6878.html):
  In a statement, the Texas Department of Public Safety said the truck appeared to be a carrying a “typical covered drug load” on its bed and was travelling at reckless speeds. After the shots were fired, the truck stopped. Seven Guatemalans were arrested, and no drugs were found. The nationalities of the dead and of an eighth person arrested later were not immediately released.
  
  Report this comment
ThePostman
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:04am
He missed the other targets? Time for range practice.

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- Walkabout
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 9:11am
  A helicopter is not necessarily a stable platform. Plus the vehicle is moving somewhere between 30 & 90 miles an hour
  
  Report this comment
- Elena2010
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:58pm
  On the paved part of FM 2221, you could get up to 90 mph. On the caliche (gravel to non-South Texans) part…closer to 30 mph before you spin out and crash. Few caliche roads are in all that great a shape down here. Although, it is election season when the roads are more likely to be fixed.
  
  Down that road before it turns up and heads to Edinburg is situated betw brush, local school bus compound, and caliche pits (quarries). In less than 5 miles, it stops being desolate and gets crowded quickly enough. Edinburg is home to UT-PanAm university along the road (TX 107) that FM 2221 turns into when it runs out.
  
  Report this comment
Longgonegator
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:04am
Listen to Police when they say “Stop and Pull Over” – no hable inglés

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- oldguy49
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:39am
  hable .45
  
  Report this comment
- Elena2010
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:24pm
  All the law enforcement guys down here DO speak Spanish. The region is 96 percent Hispanic, Spanglish speakers. You hear more Spanish in the stores than you do English.
  
  “Alto!” usually gets their attn since in Mexico, not “alto-ing” will get you shot and killed.
  
  Report this comment
StargazerInSavannah
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:03am
Surely under the impending Obama dictatorship illegals will no longer be pursued by law enforcement. Holder will provide all illegals with automatic weapons and government ID’s as the invade.
Fact is anyone entering these United States is a criminal! Time to treat criminals like the criminals they are.
Good place to start would be at 1600 Pa. Ave.. If we were to round up all the criminal associates of Barrack Obama we could provide the Messiah with enough companions to fill his new Illinois prison. Pretty difficult to find anyone associated with the current president that isn’t, like Obama, despicable lying feces.

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- Oneirishman
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 9:25am
  Now your talkin!
  
  Report this comment
tomf
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:03am
Moving sniper, Moving target. That was some mighty fine shooting. Congrats to DPW for the marksmanship training program.

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- Fubared
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:56am
  That and the helo driver-
  
  Report this comment
- hidden_lion
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 11:36am
  Soon to be hovering over your home for the suspected crime of being registered Republican/terrorist.
  Hand over your guns now, you are already their slave.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 6:40pm
  Cowardly lion
  I sold my arsenal, yesterday, again. But have no fear, I have no fear. Hide better lioness, the bad guys in uniform are out to get only you-these other instances are just practice, for you. Cry over some frijoles while we have real americans getting shot at at blown up every day so you can light incense and rehash stuff that happens in seconds. Let me guess, another rabid paulbot? Did you know that dhs painted all their domestic helos black, just to assist your delusions?
  
  Report this comment
chickenfried
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:59am
God bless Texas

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NOFX
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:55am
If Texas weren’t a border state with terrible weather, then it would be tempted to move there. Unfortunately, you don’t have any sizable mountains, large aspen groves, elk hunting, or fly fishing for cutthroat trout, or any sick trad & sport climbing routes.

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- Happy Killmore
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:33am
  What?!?! Obviously you’ve never been here. There’s PLENTY of outdoor stuff to do!
  
  Report this comment
- PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:40am
  McAllen is right near the Mexican boarder. No doubt these were contemptible aliens and who knows how many innocent citizens could have died from their refusal to STOP the vehicle. God Bless Texas! When Romney Wins and I can sell I will find a nice small town in northern Texas and say good bye to this bastion of communism in this corrupt State of MN. Want to see what MN is like?
  http://www.trevorloudon.com/2012/10/mark-froemke-minnesotas-most-influential-communist/
  
  Report this comment
- Sundayze
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:42am
  Yeah, some things were missing from the TX landscape for us too, but we made the move anyway. Very happy we did, I feel pretty safe here and the people are fantastic.
  
  Report this comment
- NOFX
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 9:09am
  Well, if Utah goes under then I’ll probably look at Texas or Montana. It just needs to be a federally defiant state. The downside Texas is I’ve heard lots of people from California and liberal states have moved to Texas since it’s extremely business friendly..and no doubt bringing their bad habits with them.
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:43am
  Unfortunately, yes. I’m from TX originally, grew up there. NYers and Californians are coming in droves and trying to turn it into their liberal cesspools. Luckily, we just corral them into Austin. The rest of the state is still pure. :)
  
  Report this comment
- Elena2010
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:32pm
  The weather is not so bad here. The northern parts have all 4 seasons. The southern part has 1.25 seasons: summer and not-quite-summer-yet for a few days in February.
  
  Come give us a try — be a Winter Texan for a few years. We have loads of them, in fact, they are already arriving. Some come as early as November and stay until after Easter or April, then head back north where the weather really is terrible! And we are waaay cheaper and less weird than the FlaKeys.
  
  Yes, Austin is weird and full of lefties; but it’s contained there. The rest of the state pretty much is left to those of us who prefer to mind our own business unless a neighbor is in trouble.
  
  Report this comment
jackact
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:51am
The question is the enforcement of established federal immigration law.
If it were enforced could this incident have been avoided?
The bigger picture is always the issue.
Wake up Washington, DC and send LARAZA packing.
Before Mitt does!

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tzion
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:51am
If they are permitted to open fire then that is the end of the story. To charge would with anything would be impossible. At best, the only outcome critics can hope for is the revoking of the current policy, which would still leave everyone involved in this incident guiltless.

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- Walkabout
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 9:07am
  Yeah that makes sense.
  
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ICSPADES
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:46am
WOW, Two dead and over 10 million put on notice. That is the power of “Word of mouth advertising”

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oceanrcr
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:44am
Funny… I’ve never been shot by a police officer.
Oh yeah… Don’t run from the police.
Or should I say, NO CORRA DE LA POLICIA.
Nice shooting!

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MadenNZ
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:44am
The guilty always run. Conduct illegal activity… suffer the consequences, a terrible and hard lesson learned.

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blanco5
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:43am
Uh-oh, prez islama’s gonna be pi$$ed—those were some of his voters!!!

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:57am
  I can eventually see a day when those arrested and are kept in pretrial confinement will be required to be given a police escort to their polls or are given absentee ballots.
  
  Report this comment
- blanco5
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:23am
  Rjjnggadsen—-NOOOOOOO, don’t give them any ideas!!!!!! LOL!
  
  Report this comment
Temporal
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:43am
Shooting into a moving van from a moving helicopter, all because the van’s occupants were SUSPECTED of a non-violent offense. That’s not protecting the public — it’s endangering the public.

Secure borders — yes. Self-defense– yes. Shooting into cars suspected of crimes– no.

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- BumperMorgan
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 3:00pm
  Right on Temporal.
  
  Report this comment
commonsenseguy
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:38am
there is no excuse for deadly force when they we’re unarmed, really, you are a idiot, what do you call a truck going at high speeds, how about you tell that to the many families who have lost love one because some illegal was running from the police and smashed into and killed innocent families,they could have stopped when told to,they could have come through the boarder legally,but no they had to break more than a couple of laws now look some are dead and you want to blame the police not the driver of the fleeing truck,who broke the law,if he had not been stopped,he could have killed someone, there is no excuse for illegal sympathizers who want to blame everybody but the real criminals,

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kickagrandma
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:34am
LOL, You are sooooo right!

YAY, TEXAS!!!!

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AlwaysAmazed
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:34am
Darn!

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bbhouston
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:34am
I’ve just got to think if there were a carload of Americans running from ‘law enforcement’ in Mexico the car would end up riddled with bullets and ALL occupants dead. And I’m sure the American press would then come out and say it was the Americans own fault.

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- commonsenseguy
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:39am
  don’t call them American, the press here is communist lovers
  
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sortsgt
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:33am
The vehicle can be classified and is a deadly weapon under Texas state law.

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- Walkabout
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 9:10am
  A speeding vehicle has more kinetic energy than a bullet or a clip of bullets. Vehicles have been purposefully ran into crowds of people with the intent to kill.
  
  Some Star Wars weapons have no explosives. They just have mass & a large velocity. Just like a motor vehicle.
  
  Report this comment
RightUnite
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:32am
Amen.

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sortsgt
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 7:29am
The vehicle is a deadly weapon under Texas state law.

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