San Antonio Truck Owner Uses Apple AirTag to Track Stolen Vehicle, Resulting in Fatal Shooting: Why Taking Matters into Your Own Hands Can be Dangerous
A suspected truck thief was shot and killed in San Antonio, Texas on March 29th after the owner used an Apple AirTag to track down his vehicle.[0] The San Antonio Police Department received a report about a stolen truck around 1 p.m. on Wednesday from a residential neighbourhood in San Antonio’s north side.[1] The family was able to track the vehicle with a hidden AirTag inside the truck and eventually located it in the parking lot of a shopping center across town.[2]
The possibility of the shooter facing criminal charges remains uncertain. An investigation is ongoing and at this point, it is unknown if any charges will be pressed on the shooting suspect. As for the victim, he died from his injuries.[3] Investigators still aren’t sure how the shooting transpired, but one of the family members tried to “contact the suspect in the truck,” but believed he saw a gun being pulled on him.[4]
The truck owners reportedly called the police to report the theft before the shooting but then chose not to wait for officers.[5] San Antonio Police Department spokesperson Nick Soliz urged people not to take matters into their own hands.[5] During a press briefing, Soliz said, “If you are to get your vehicle stolen, I know it's frustrating, but please do not take matters in your own hands like this.”
According to preliminary information from the San Antonio Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 3200 block of SE Military Drive in reference to a shooting.[6] When officers arrived, the victim had been hit by gunfire and was unresponsive. The victim was then transported by EMS to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.[7] When the police arrived, the man in the vehicle had been hit by the gunfire and was unresponsive.[6] After being taken to a hospital, he was declared deceased.[6]
It remains uncertain whether the individual who shot at the suspected thief or any of the other relatives will be charged with a crime.[2] The only person who fired shots was the owner of the truck, and investigators are working to determine if the suspected thief was armed.[4] It has not been disclosed by the authorities whether or not the owner of the hijacked vehicle will be held accountable.[0]
This incident highlights the importance of not taking the law into one's own hands. While it may be frustrating to have your vehicle stolen, it’s important to contact the police and let them handle the situation. Taking matters into your own hands can lead to dangerous and deadly consequences, as seen in this case. It’s important to prioritize safety and allow law enforcement to handle the situation appropriately.
0. “Texas Man Uses Apple AirTag To Locate Stolen Truck, Kills Suspected Thief | Newsradio 95 WXTK” iHeart, 30 Mar. 2023, https://95wxtk.iheart.com/content/2023-03-30-texas-man-uses-apple-airtag-to-locate-stolen-truck-kills-suspected-thief
1. “Suspected truck thief shot dead by owner who used AirTag to track vehicle” cjoy.com, 30 Mar. 2023, https://cjoy.com/news/9590520/truck-thief-airtag-shot-dead-owner-texas/
2. “Suspected truck thief shot dead by owner who used AirTag to track vehicle” msnNOW, 30 Mar. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/suspected-truck-thief-shot-dead-by-owner-who-used-airtag-to-track-vehicle/ar-AA19hxcy?li=AAggNb9
3. “Owner Tracks Down & Kills Big City Carjacking Suspect” San Angelo LIVE!, 30 Mar. 2023, https://sanangelolive.com/news/urban-texas/2023-03-30/owner-tracks-down-kills-big-city-carjacking-suspect
4. “Man tracks down stolen truck using Apple Airtag; shoots, kills alleged thief, police say” WSOC Charlotte, 30 Mar. 2023, https://www.wsoctv.com/news/trending/man-tracks-down-stolen-truck-using-apple-airtag-shoots-kills-alleged-thief-police-say/QEMJ4PKSQBFALATUJYWMRVRW4I
5. “Owners use Apple AirTag to track down truck thief and shoot him dead before cops arrive” The Mirror, 30 Mar. 2023, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/owners-use-apple-airtag-track-29589215
6. “SAPD: Man tracks down alleged car thief, fatally shoots him” KVEO-TV, 30 Mar. 2023, https://www.valleycentral.com/news/sapd-man-tracks-down-alleged-car-thief-fatally-shoots-him/
7. “Man Tracks Down His Stolen Car, Shoots and Kills the Person Driving It—Cops” msnNOW, 30 Mar. 2023, http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/man-tracks-down-his-stolen-car-shoots-and-kills-the-person-driving-it-cops/ar-AA19gRyO
