WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT: Home Invasion Leaves Suspect Dead, Homeowner Injured, And A Community Defending The Criminals?

Up is now down, and down is now up. Although the strangest part about this story is the state it took place in.

Three criminals attempted to break into the home of Doug Hurst, 45, near Teague, Texas. Hurst heard the three home invaders kicking in his back door around 1:30 AM, and armed himself. At least one of the criminals were armed and fired at Hurst. Hurst was struck, but returned fire after being shot, striking one of the home invaders.

When deputies arrived, they found Hurst seriously injured with a gunshot wound to the lower abdomen. He is is now in critical condition at a local hospital in a medically-induced coma.

One of his attackers, Joshua Mulkey, 19, was found dead of a gunshot wound in the backyard of the home. The other home invaders, Lawson Abram and O’Jarion McClenon, were taken into custody within hours and charged with armed robbery. Both Abram and McClenon could be charged with Mulkey’s death under the “law of parties,” which is Texas’ interpretation of the felony murder rule. Another count of murder could be added if Mr. Hurst does not survive his injuries.

As shocking as a violent crime like this is in a rural area where violent crime is said to be rare, the most stunning part of the story may be how the friends and family members of deceased robber/attempted murderer Mulkey are defending him in the comments of the ABC News article reporting the incident.

Read more: Bearing Arms