A Texas man who was seen on video shooting and killing a man during a custody fight won’t be criminally charged, officials said.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Wednesday that a grand jury voted not to indict Kyle Carruth, who shot and killed Chad Read late last year.
Evidence presented to the jury “included several eyewitnesses, family of Chad Read, and additional evidence that was not previously released to the public,” a statement on the Attorney General’s website read. “After several days of thorough inspection of the evidence, the Special Grand Jury concluded their investigation into the matter and deliberated on whether the evidence supported the filing of criminal charges against Kyle Carruth.”
Paxton’s office had been tapped to investigate the case after the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office recused itself after it was revealed that Carruth’s ex-wife, Ann-Marie Carruth, is an elected judge, according to local reports.
The Buzbee Law Firm, which is representing Chad Read’s widow, criticized the grand jury decision.
“The criminal justice utterly failed Jennifer Read, the widow of Chad Read. Chad Read was involved in a heated discussion with his ex-wife concerning custody of his son. The video shows that Kyle Carruth injected himself into that discussion,” the statement said.
It added: “We believe there was no legitimate reason for Kyle Carruth to bring a deadly weapon to an argument that he wasn’t even a part of. Chad Read died unarmed, shot, and killed while simply trying to determine the whereabouts of his son. The civil matter has been on hold awaiting the outcome of the criminal proceedings. We will now aggressively pursue Jennifer Read’s claims in civil court.”
Carruth’s lawyers previously said that he fired in self-defense.
Several graphic and profanity-laden videos show a confrontation with Carruth, Read, and Carruth’s girlfriend—who was identified as Read’s ex-wife Christina—before Read was shot. Carruth can be seen telling Read to leave the premises before he stepped away to grab a gun while Read and the woman scream at each other.
Later, Carruth is seen returning with his gun and telling Read to leave. The video then shows Read telling Carruth to “use it,” saying he would “take it” from Carruth.
