Home Crime and Punishment TX Homeowner Shoots, Kills Burglar During Christmas Eve Break-In
Defensive Gun Use of the Day
TX Homeowner Shoots, Kills Burglar During Christmas Eve Break-In
When Gareth Long heard a window break at his Cedar Hill, Texas home on Christmas Eve night, he had no way of knowing whether he would meet a poorly-dressed Santa Claus, a strangely pale Grinch or a latter-day Charles Manson. So he secured his family and armed himself to investigate. Robber Joshua Slaven (above) may have been desperate, mentally ill or under the influence of drugs when he broke into the Long family home, but he still still had plenty of warnings that he was likely to encounter an armed and uncooperative homeowner. This was Texas, after all . . .
But Slaven ignored those warnings, and when he also ignored the homeowner's repeated warnings to leave, the homeowner shot him dead. According to dallasnews.com, paramedics bagged and tagged him at 11:59 p.m. on December 24th.
Slaven turned out to be the stepson of Cedar Hill Mayor Rob Franke, who lives a few blocks down the same street. This wasn't Slaven's first run-in with the law: he was arrested for assaulting his stepfather after Franke confronted him about his drug problem. He was later charged with violating an emergency protective order, meant to keep him away from Franke and his family.
Homeowner Long is exceedingly unlikely to face any criminal or civil charges arising from the shooting. Texas law encourages the defense of self, home and property, and Long reportedly gave Slaven every opportunity to flee before shooting him. Long's attorney Chris Knox released the following statement about the incident:
"Mr. Long gave repeated warnings that he had a firearm and continuously demanded the intruder exit the home. Ignoring the warnings, the intruder advanced further into the home and Mr. Long reacted with force, as allowed by law, in order to defend himself, his wife and his home."
As with almost every lethal DGU, there are no winners here. The shooting has devastated both the Long and Franke families, and it will surely turn future Christmases into an anniversary of grief and horror. The only person who can be said to be 'at peace' after this tragedy is the man who caused it all, Slaven himself. But he is dead.
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Vhyrus December 27, 2013 At 17:09
No one reports this story, but the one about the man killing his stepdaughter in Colorado gets national news.
Hannibal December 27, 2013 At 19:37
A tragedy always gets more coverage than a tragedy averted.
If it bleeds, it leads…
Bob December 27, 2013 At 21:33
Always remember they are not in the news business, they are in the advertising sales business. They'll do whatever it takes to get eyeballs.
Jeff the Griz December 27, 2013 At 17:20
Hmmm, Mayor's step son, if this had been a DGU anywhere else this would have been an instant arrest. God bless Texas, and I haven't lived there since I was 2.
Jim R December 27, 2013 At 17:33
It really is a shame when something like this happens. Taking a life, even in self defense, is not an easy thing to do and, thankfully, few ever have to find out if they could pull the trigger if they had to.
Anonymous December 27, 2013 At 17:33
'NO GUNS PERMITTED' AT TOBY KEITH'S NEW BAR AND GRILL
Thanks for telling us about this news story, however this is not the best place to put it.
Go to the Free-Fire-Zone forum (see the Forum link at the top of every TTAG page), then go to the Submit An Article page and put it there. There is a good chance your submission could become an article on TTAG.
Sorry; I just posted it here so there'd be a better chance of it being seen rather than being buried in an older thread. Thanks for the info; I'll do that next time.
Doug December 27, 2013 At 17:59
"The only person who can be said to be 'at peace' after this tragedy is the man who caused it all, Slaven himself. But he is dead."
Nope. There is no peace where he probably now is. Ever.
William Burke December 27, 2013 At 19:31
Not likely. It's a shame, but no peace evermore for him.
Point blank December 27, 2013 At 21:10
Your exactly right! This guy sowed his life with bad decisions and that was the end result.
Nathan Pieters December 27, 2013 At 18:44
Glad Mr Long was able to protect his family. In Connecticut or New York, this would be an opportunity for the libs to crucify a man for doing what a man must, protecting his family
tdiinva December 27, 2013 At 19:56
Slaven was a white guy shot by a white guy. Under Trayvon's rules the facts of matter can be allowed to rule.
Phil December 27, 2013 At 18:53
Every time a bell rings society gets a little more civilized.
All kidding aside, I think we (Texans) should throw parades for responsible home-defenders, after reviewing the facts. This man may have saved his family, as well as countless others. A break-in during the day is one thing, at night is another. He also saved the courts a ton of future work. Good job CD, we NEED these stories; there are way too many that don't end well.
G December 27, 2013 At 19:21
Glad Mr. Long and his family are safe… Of course, this DGU story will get buried in the presses because no one likes to hear that even during the holidays, criminals don't take a break.
(Sigh)… No, they don't. I hope if the bell ever tolls, I have the strength to do what needs to be done.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater December 27, 2013 At 22:15
As with almost every lethal DGU, there are no winners here.
The taxpayer's a winner, as are those future victims of this shitbag that will no longer be victimized. Opportunity Benefits instead of Opportunity Costs.
Ryan December 28, 2013 At 07:32
Concur. Well said.
uncommon_sense December 28, 2013 At 06:11
It's too bad this happened on Christmas Eve. I'll bet that was devastating for the victims as well as the attacker's family.
Paul T. McCain December 28, 2013 At 08:12
"there are no winners here"
Not sure that assertion is correct.
Seem the "winners" are the people who did not get carried out of the house in a body bag.