Horrifying moment gun-wielding Texas man shoots dead partner's ex during furious child custody row: Cops are yet to lay charges as lawyer claims killing was 'justifiable homicide'

 This is the horrifying moment a Texas man shot his partner's ex-husband dead during a furious child custody row outside of his home.

Footage shows Kyle Carruth opening fire on Chad Read after the two squared up against each other and wrestled over the gun in Lubbock, Texas.

However, Carruth has not been charged by police over the killing with his lawyers arguing that it was 'justifiable homicide' and carried out in self defence. 

The argument leading up to the November 5 shooting centred around a custody dispute over the children of Chad Read and his ex-wife Christina Read.  

Through her attorney, Chad Read's widow Jennifer Read released a statement along with the footage that shows the moment her 54-year-husband was shot and killed by Carruth, reportedly Christina Read's new boyfriend.

In an affidavit, Jennifer Read has since accused Christina Read and Kyle Carruth of engaging 'in a conspiracy to assault and/or murder Chad that day.'This is the horrifying moment a Texas man shot his partner's ex-husband dead during a furious child custody row outside of his home.

Footage shows Kyle Carruth opening fire on Chad Read after the two squared up against each other and wrestled over the gun in Lubbock, Texas.

However, Carruth has not been charged by police over the killing with his lawyers arguing that it was 'justifiable homicide' and carried out in self defence. 

The argument leading up to the November 5 shooting centred around a custody dispute over the children of Chad Read and his ex-wife Christina Read.  

Through her attorney, Chad Read's widow Jennifer Read released a statement along with the footage that shows the moment her 54-year-husband was shot and killed by Carruth, reportedly Christina Read's new boyfriend.

In an affidavit, Jennifer Read has since accused Christina Read and Kyle Carruth of engaging 'in a conspiracy to assault and/or murder Chad that day.'Carruth is then shown re-emerging from the house holding a firearm, which he's holding down by his side, shouting 'leave' at Chad Read.

Chad Read is heard shouting back: 'Use it mother f***er', and squaring up to Carruth, threatening to take the gun from him.

Now face-to-face, Carruth fires one shot into the floor at the pair's feet, which does not appear to deter Chad Read, who continues to push against Carruth.

Suddenly, Carruth jumps back away from the porch, raises the rifle and fires two shots at Chad Read, who slumps to the floor.

Carruth walks back to the porch and turns around to face the camera. Still holding the gun, he wags his finger as Jennifer Read is heard saying 'I have it on video Kyle.'

'I told all of y'all to leave,' Carruth is heard saying, telling her that his son is not at the house. 'None of y'all should be here, I asked you leave. I did everything. I did not want to do any of this,' he says. 

A second video, filmed from inside the house, shows the same incident.

Jennifer Read is now suing for custody of her step-children, according to a press release published by her attorney.

'Jennifer Read, the widow of Chad Read, has filed a Petition today seeking to take custody of Chad Read's children from their mother, Christina Read,' it says.

The woman and her attorney said they released the footage of  'Kyle Carruth's shooting of her husband' and the affidavit to 'speak for themselves.' 

Carruth has not been charged over the incident. Carruth's attorney, David Guinn, told KCBD that the shooting was done in self defence, saying that Chad Read was trespassing on his property, citing the Castle Doctrine. 

Speaking to the local news outlet, Guinn said the video 'confirms the Lubbock Police's thorough work reflects this as a justified homicide.' 

'When a trespassing Chad Read advanced on Mr. Carruth, who was standing within feet of the front door of his home and office, employees there, Mr. Read said I'll take your gun and effing kill you with it and then tried to. It was then and only then did that gun get pointed at Mr. Read at the fatal moment,' Guinn said.

Chad Read, Guinn added, had every opportunity to leave the property, saying that he was 'threatening to others' and that he 'chose to advance on Mr. Carruth.' 

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Left: Chad Read argues with Kyle Carruth - the new boyfriend of his ex-wife. Right: Chat Read arguing with ex-wife Christina Read

'Mr. Read said he'd take the gun and kill him with it,' the lawyer said. ' The gun went off into the patio, that still did not deter Mr. Read, who then grabbed the gun and tried to kill Kyle.' 

Citing the Castle Doctrine, a Texas law that allows someone to '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.