Family Of Suspected Shoplifter Shot And Killed Allegedly By Grand Prairie Pawn Shop Employee Satisfied With Murder Charge
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - A Grand Prairie pawn shop employee was charged with murder for allegedly shooting and killing a suspected shoplifter, Dorian Medina.
Medina's family met with Grand Prairie Police Thursday evening.
His brother told CBS 11, he's relieved police decided to file a murder charge against the suspect in this case.
Dorian Medina, 22, was a father of a newborn and lived down the street from Lone Star Pawn where he lost his life Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 15.
Grand Prairie Police said Medina had committed a misdemeanor theft inside the business and was driving away when an employee, identified as Price Mackey, fired a handgun and killed Medina who was inside his car.
Patricia Reyes, who owns a used car lot next door, said she heard three gun shots and was surprised to hear an employee allegedly used deadly force on a shoplifter.
"Nothing is more than a life, this is somebody, some person, everything," she said.
A sign on the door said the pawn shop was closed on Thursday.
Rick Pruitt, a frequent customer, said he believes the employee was justified in his actions.
"He was well within his rights," Pruitt said. "Take it from an animalistic or a divine right perspective, you're entitled protect what's yours."
Criminal law experts say standard self-defense laws, not the Castle Doctrine, apply in this case.
They say the employee will have to show he was in fear for his life to justify that deadly decision.