Lufkin Business Owner Saves Family in Self-Defense Shooting, Fatally Terminating Bad Guy ~ VIDEOS

Lufkin, TX –  A local business owner in Lufkin found himself in a life-threatening situation at night when a man attempted to steal his truck with his wife and baby inside. The incident, which occurred around 9 p.m. in the 1800 block of East Lufkin Avenue, ended in the shooting death of the suspect.

Marco Leyva, 25, had stopped at his business, leaving his truck running with his family inside, while he went to attach a trailer. Moments later, Jarvis Houston, 47, approached and entered the truck. Houston had just been released from Angelina County Jail an hour before the incident.

Leyva, noticing the danger his family was in, confronted Houston and pleaded with him to take another vehicle instead.

Despite the victim’s warnings and offers of a different vehicle, Jarvis Houston refused, and a physical altercation ensued. Fearing for his family’s safety, Leyva retrieved a nine-millimeter handgun from the truck. The struggle escalated, resulting in Leyva fatally shooting Houston.

The police were called immediately, and upon their arrival, Houston was found bleeding out on the ground. He was taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m. The Angelina County Jail confirmed that Houston had been released earlier on charges of assault/family violence.

Surveillance footage from the business corroborated Leyva’s account, showing the tense moments leading up to the shooting. Leyva was briefly detained but released after investigators determined that he acted in self-defense. The case is still under review by the Angelina County District Attorney’s Office, but no charges are expected to be filed against Leyva.

Lufkin Police Lieutenant Mike Shurley stated, “The surveillance footage clearly shows that Mr. Leyva was trying to protect his family. The suspect’s actions posed a real threat to their lives.”

This incident highlights the importance of the right to self-defense and the quick actions of an individual to protect his loved ones. The investigation will continue, and officials expect to receive Houston’s autopsy report in a few weeks.

The community has expressed sympathy for Leyva and his family, recognizing the tragic nature of the event but acknowledging the necessity of his actions to ensure his family’s safety.

Tactical Note: It seems the defender had to retrieve his EDC weapon from the vehicle and did not have it on his person; this could have been a strategic error had he been unable to reach the weapon, or worse, the criminal had gotten to it first. Carry your weapon at all times.