Two teens were riding bicycles near homes under construction when police sources say the man confronted them and opened fire with a shotgun.
DALLAS — A 66-year-old Dallas man is under arrest after police say he shot a 14-year-old boy riding a bicycle near homes under construction in Southeast Dallas, leaving the teen with shotgun wounds to his chest and arms.
The shooting happened Wednesday evening on Godfrey Avenue while it was still daylight.
According to a police source, two teenagers were riding bicycles near homes under construction when investigators say Victor Burnett confronted them and opened fire with a shotgun.
One of the boys was struck multiple times with birdshot. The wounded teenager’s brother, Gavin Menchaca, said the boy came running home screaming for help.
“I just saw him going in and saying help me, help me in Spanish,” Gavin Menchaca said.
The brother said the teen was bleeding heavily from his chest and arms.
“I saw him bleeding on his arms with circular holes like with a shotgun or something, and they said he had a punctured lung,” he said.
Family members said the teen underwent surgery after the shooting.
The boy’s father, Gerardo Menchaca, said he feared his son was dying and tried to rush him to get medical help himself.
“I got in my truck and took him to the fire station, and when I got there, they said the ambulance was at the house, so I came back here,” he said.
The family disputes any suggestion that the teenagers were trespassing.
“They were not even on the property,” Gavin Menchaca said. “They were in front, not doing nothing to it.”
The teen’s father said his son told him Burnett opened fire without warning.
“My son says he shot at him and he injured his hands and his chest,” Gerardo Menchaca said.
According to the police source, investigators recovered the shotgun believed to have been used in the shooting from Burnett’s vehicle. Dallas police arrested him on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Under Texas law, property owners generally cannot use deadly force during daylight hours simply because they believe someone is trespassing. Texas law allows deadly force to protect property only under limited circumstances, including some violent crimes or certain nighttime property crimes.
The teen’s brother said the 14-year-old believed he was dying after the shooting.
“He thought he was dying,” Gavin Menchaca said. “Yes, because he was shot multiple times and shot in the chest.”
Police said the investigation remains ongoing.