Texas Man Killed in Child Custody Dispute, Lawyer Says It Was Self-Defense

A file photo shows an ambulance. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images

A Texas man was shot and killed while arguing with his ex-wife over child custody in an incident captured on video earlier this month.

The attorney for William “Kyle” Carruth, who shot Chad Read during the dispute in Lubbock on Nov. 5, said over the past weekend that his client acted in self-defense, according to local reports.

David M. Guinn, the lawyer, identified Carruth, his client, as a man brandishing a firearm in several graphic and profanity-laden videos. They show a confrontation with Carruth, Read, and Carruth’s girlfriend—who has 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.

One video of the shooting and dispute was also released by Jennifer Read, who was identified as Read’s wife.

Later, Carruth is seen returning with his gun and told Read to leave. The video then shows Read telling Carruth to “use it,” saying he would “take it” from Carruth.

Another video shows Read grabbing Carruth’s gun and swinging him across the porch. That’s when Carruth fired at Read.

No charges have been filed in the case so far. Guinn told Fox8 that Carruth acted in self-defense.

“All Texans may lawfully brandish a firearm to protect themselves, their property, and their business,” Guinn said on Nov. 27.

Read, he asserted, attempted to take the gun away from Carruth.

“And instantaneously, he tried to take the gun away from Kyle,” Guinn said. “In doing so he was power[ful] enough to sling Kyle 180 degrees around on Kyle’s patio.”

“Raising his left leg, he was continuing his advance on Kyle, threatening him and posing an immediate threat. Kyle responded,” Guinn then argued, adding that it’s “justifiable homicide.”

Jennifer Read, in an affidavit, claimed Carruth failed to de-escalate the situation and used a gun when no physical threat to life or property existed. Her lawsuit stated that she and Chad Read went to his ex-wife’s place of business to find Chad Read’s youngest son.

“I am the stepmother of the children the subject of this suit,” Jennifer Read’s affidavit read. “The mother of the children, Christina Read, has endangered the physical health and emotional well-being of the children by permitting them to be in the presence of the man that murdered their father, Chad Read.”

During a recent interview, Jennifer Read explained why she released the video of the incident.

She told Good Morning America that “the public had a right to know, and ”it had been three weeks, nothing had been done. And I felt like the public needed to know. And I feel like Chad deserves justice.”

The Lubbock Police Department has provided few public comments on the case.

Several weeks ago, the department issued a statement to KCBD, saying: “While LPD recognizes there is public interest in this case, there are multiple facets of this on-going investigation that dictate what can and cannot be released to the public, per Texas state law.”