Horrifying moment gun-wielding Texas man shoots dead partner’s ex Chad Read and William “Kyle” Carruth got into an aggressive confrontation over child custody outside of Mr. Carruth’s home in Lubbock, Texas, just moments before Mr. Read was shot and killed. Videos of the deadly shooting have been released, one Read’s widow, and one by Mr. Carruth’s lawyers.
In the videos, Read is seen arguing with his ex-wife over their child custody when Carruth tells him to leave, stepping back inside the house and returning with a gun. The men go head-to-head as Read yells at Carruth to “use it, motherf***er because God damn it I’ll take it from you and f***ing use it on you”. Carruth steps back and fires a warning shot into the ground at Read’s feet. Read grabs the gun and swings Carruth, who steps back off the porch and fires two shots, killing him seemingly instantly.
Jennifer Read can be heard saying “call 911”, as Carruth defends the shooting: “I told you, I told all of y’all to leave.” Carruth’s lawyers are claiming self-defense, saying the killing of Read was a “justifiable homicide”. David M. Guinn one of Carruth’s lawyers said:
All Texans may lawfully brandish a firearm to protect themselves, their property, and their business. When Kyle did that, Chad Read advanced on him, and instantaneously, he tried to take the gun away from Kyle. In doing so he was powerful 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. This is a justifiable homicide.
Citing the Castle Doctrine, a Texas law that allows someone ‘to defend himself, others, or his property,’ Guinn said that the subsequent shooting was justified, adding that he hoped his client would not be indicted. But Jennifer Read has since accused Christina Read and Kyle Carruth of conspiring to kill her slain husband, claiming that Chad had evidence of the couple’s affair and threatened to make it public.
‘I am the stepmother of the children the subject of this suit, ‘ the affidavit says. ‘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.
Christina Read and Kyle Carruth have been engaged in an ongoing affair, despite Kyle Carruth being married,’ Read claims in the document. On October 30, 2021, Chad Read informed Christina Read that he had evidence of her affair with Kyle Carruth and that he was going to go public with it.
Ms. Read goes on to suggest that Carruth and his girlfriend plotted to kill her husband, pointing out moments from the video that she says suggests it was deliberate. She also goes on to claim that Carruth’s wife, Judge Ann-Marie Carruth, has filed for divorce, and in an affidavit that she is ‘very concerned about her husband’s health.
From the mobile phone video, it appears that Chad Read and Kyle Carruth are arguing on the porch of the house, with Christina Read standing to the right. Kyle Carruth – wearing a black top and jeans – is heard telling Chad Read to ‘get off of my property’. Chad Read, who is wearing a teal top and jeans, gesticulates with his arms as Carruth turns around to go inside the house.
Chad Read turns around and continues talking to Christina Read, telling her that he wants his son, who he was supposed to have custody of from 3:15 p.m that day, according to Jennifer Read in an affidavit filed after the incident. ‘I’m supposed to have him at 3.15,’ Chad Read is heard saying to Christina Read. ‘But you’re playing games telling me that I have to pick him up at six?’
The pair continue arguing, with Chad Read suggesting that his son is probably at his ex-wife’s mother’s house. Christina Read is heard telling him that she wanted to see him, who which Chad Read says: ‘I don’t care if you wanted to see him or not. ‘I get him at 3:15. If you want to see him you can see him up until 3.15. You keep trying to keep my son from me, I’m going to drag you, and Ann-Marie, and everybody else into court.’
It has been reported that Ann-Marie could refer to Judge Ann-Marie Carruth – who Jennifer Read has said is the wife of Carruth.