Man did not face conviction for the death of his partner's ex-husband
Outrage in the community arose when they discovered that his case was handled by the attacker's ex-partner, who turned out to be a judge
Lubbock - United States. William 'Kyle' Carruth, a Texas gunman, did not face criminal charges after shooting and killing Chad Read, his partner's ex-husband, during a heated argument over child custody. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that a special grand jury determined that the shooting was self-defense because it occurred on Carruth's property.
The fatal confrontation took place on Nov. 5, 2022, in Lubbock, when Carruth, 39, shot Chad Read, 54, following a custody dispute over the children of Read and his ex-wife, Christina Read, who was in an extramarital relationship with Carruth (At the time Kyle Carruth was still married to Judge Ann-Marie Carruth).
Chad's widow, Jennifer Read, shared shocking images of the moment her husband was shot. In the video, Read is heard demanding to see her nine-year-old son off Carruth's property before he was fatally injured.
Despite the visual evidence and public condemnation, the special grand jury concluded that Carruth acted in self-defense, as the confrontation took place on his property. The Lubbock County District Attorney's Office recused itself from the investigation due to Carruth's relationship with 72nd District Court Judge Ann-Marie Carruth, who divorced him shortly after the incident (Due to his infidelity in the time of the crime).
Jennifer Read, now his widow, expressed her disappointment on social media, stating that the criminal justice system had "completely failed" her. Although the criminal proceedings have concluded, Read plans to take the case to civil court, filing a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Carruth.
The controversial decision sparked outrage in the community, questioning the application of the self-defense law in Texas and raising questions about the fairness of the case, as the Lubbock County District Attorney's Office withdrew from the investigation, citing the judge. Carruth, Kyle Carruth's ex-wife, as her reasoning.