Gayle and Sheila Muhs gave trespassers a blunt warning. They posted a large sign outside their Texas home saying trespassers would be shot and survivors would be shot again.
They weren't joking.
The Muhs are currently being held on charges of aggravated assault for allegedly firing at least two shotgun blasts at a pair of packed cars that stopped outside their rural Texas house. Those charges are expected to be upgraded to murder, since a 7-year-old boy who was wounded in the assault has died from shotgun pellets to his head and face.
But police said the families in the two cars were driving on a public road when the Muhs opened fire from their house, killing Donald Coffey Jr. and hitting three others, including the boy's 5-year-old sister.
Liberty County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Ken DeFoor told ABCNews.com today that the shooting was the most "violent reaction to something so blatantly, blatantly minor" he's ever seen.
Police got a 911 call just after 9 p.m. Thursday, DeFoor said, from Sheila Muhs who "reported there were people in jacked up four-wheel automobiles ... and that she shot them." She also reported that the vehicles were destroying the nearby levees.
But in reality, DeFoor said, the families in the two cars had done nothing illegal. And, he said, they never set foot on the Muhs' property.
DeFoor said the Coffey family -- mom Becky, dad Donald Sr. and their three children -- were visiting friends along with Patrick Cammack and Cindy Nelton in the Muhs' neighborhood near Dayton, Texas, about 45 miles east of Houston.
The two families had planned to go off-roading at the nearby government-owned levees on the way home, an activity that is both popular and legal in the area, DeFoor said.
In the Jeep were Cammack, 30, Donald Coffey, 30 and Donald Jr., 7. In the following Ford SUV were Becky Coffey, Nelton and the Coffey's 5-year-old daughter, Destiny, and 11-year-old son.
The two cars stopped on the county-owned road outside the Muhs' home so one of the boys could go to the bathroom by the side of the road.
That's when, DeFoor said, the couple ran out of their house.
"Sheila Muhs started cursing at them 'Get off our property,'" DeFoor said and fired off at least one round, causing the Jeep, which had started to leave, to veer off the road.
Read the rest of the story at ABC News.
How can people treat other people like this? Their lives weren't in danger. Their property wasn't being stolen. They couldn't see who they were shooting at, but they opened fire anyway.Why would anybody do that?
I can't put into words how sad this story makes me feel. The Muhs have two young boys of their own. I keep wondering if they'll be better or worse off if their parents end up in prison.
The whole thing seems like a horrible tragic accident, but that sign says that it was an accident that was just waiting to happen. It says they would be HAPPY if they shot and killed somebody. I hope they're not smiling now.
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Comments: 18
I think it's clear from their sign, and from their actions that night, that they've been itching to shoot somebody, and they finally got their chance.
Remember, this is only about 30 miles from where Joe Horn shot two burglars in the back, and was never arrested or indicted. Like Horn, the Muhs' called 9-11 and reported the shooting themselves. I think they were confident the law would protect them. And for all I know, it still might.
In the other case, which I have mixed feelings about, there were thieves that had broken into the neighbors property, and were stealing things.
This case, the people were in their vehicle on a public road. The law wouldn't apply to this case.
So sad.
BULL
That's what most of the news stories I've read have said, but that may be disputed if/when this goes to trial. I've read some reports that have said it wasn't a public road, but a private road (not owned by the Muhs, though). I've also read reports that the guys weren't in the vehicle at the time, but had got out to pee. If they were on the Muhs' property when they were peeing, and if peeing on somebody's lawn can be considered criminal mischief, then Texas law may protect them.
My guess is that they were not on the Muhs' property, and that the Muhs' are going to prison. But I wouldn't put down too much of a bet on that. As I said at the time of the Joe Horn shooting, this is not a good law.
I think Hannity and Beck should go to prison too.
The world has gone ******* mad! This is BS, and never should have happened. For realz, I am pissed...in tears over the loss of this small boy. These are two ****** up people. OMG, this is terrible.
Thank you everyone for your comments.
The last news story I read about these two people said they are both still in jail awaiting trial.