A late-night meet-up in Carrollton ended in deadly gunfire on Monday when a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed during what police say was an attempted robbery that spiraled out of control. Investigators say the older man he met with opened fire in what they are calling a self-defense shooting. The teen was rushed to Carrollton Regional Hospital, where he later died, and three other teenagers were arrested on robbery-related charges.
Police accounts and arrests
Carrollton police said they first received a weapons investigation call just after 7 p.m. in the 2200 block of Heads Lane, followed shortly by a report from a woman who said her 16-year-old son had been shot, according to The Dallas Morning News. Officers said the teen was taken to Carrollton Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police reported that two 17-year-old boys and two 15-year-old girls were with the victim at the time of the incident. Two of the 17-year-olds and one of the 15-year-old girls now face aggravated robbery charges, according to the same outlet.
How police say the confrontation unfolded
Investigators say the teenagers traveled to Carrollton to meet 20-year-old Adan Sandoval under the pretense of selling illegal substances, with the intent to rob him, Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. According to police, the 16-year-old allegedly pulled a gun on Sandoval, who then drew his own weapon and fired. Officers have described the shooting as an act of self-defense.
Authorities identified two of the teen suspects as 17-year-olds John Avila and Markellin Soto and said a 15-year-old girl is also facing an aggravated robbery charge, the outlet reported.
Legal context
Under Texas law, deadly force can be justified in specific situations to stop the imminent commission of certain violent felonies, including robbery, as outlined in the Texas Penal Code. Sections 9.31 and 9.32 detail when self-defense and the use of deadly force may be legally justified, while also limiting that justification for people who provoked the encounter or were engaged in criminal activity. Those statutory guardrails are among the factors investigators and prosecutors will weigh as they decide whether the shooting was lawful.
Investigation and next steps
As of Thursday, Carrollton police said Sandoval had not been charged in the teen's death and that the investigation is still active, according to The Dallas Morning News. Authorities have publicly identified the three arrested teenagers as Avila, Soto, and a 15-year-old girl, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Detectives have asked anyone with additional information about the shooting to contact the Carrollton Police Department investigative unit.
