Couple accused of shooting 4, including 2 kids

Source: MSNBC

HOUSTON - A couple has been accused of opening fire and wounding four people — including a 7-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl — who they mistakenly thought were trespassing on their property.

The victims, who were off-roading near a residential area about 40 miles northeast of Houston, were struck with shotgun pellets late Thursday after stopping their vehicles near the Trinity River so the children could go to the bathroom, said Liberty County Chief Deputy Ken DeFoor.

Police said resident Sheila Muhs, 45, fired once with a 12-gauge shotgun, then handed it to her husband, Gayle Muhs, also 45. DeFoor said Sheila Muhs called 911 and told the dispatcher, "They're out here tearing up the levee, so I shot them."

The Muhs have been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and remained in jail Friday. The Muhs don't have an attorney yet to comment on their case, DeFoor said.

Donald Coffey Jr., the 7-year-old boy, was shot in the head and was in critical condition Friday. Patrick Cammack, a friend of the boy's father who was driving in a separate vehicle, also was shot in the head and in critical condition.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30650051/

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What stupid f*cks!

Sounds like somebody got too close for comfort to their meth lab.

EYE BLEACH! EYE BLEACH!!! AGGGGHHHHH!!!!

My Daddy always said you can tell a murderer by their face. . .

what with a sweaty-pasty sicko on the left. . .

and a El Greco-ish-greenish-dark bloodsucking vamp on the right.

They must eat road-kill to look like this.

Healing thoughts onto the victims who were so unlucky to cross the path of these cretans.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

To be able to tell by looking would be too easy.

I don't recognize the one on the left.

If he sat down on a bus next to an old lady she would likely think, "My, what a nice looking young man", never knowing the deaths he would cause. Even in that picture of Ted Bundy he appears to be a handsome man and people wouldn't guess he was a mass murderer which is probably what allowed him to go on killing for so long. Looks don't always tell the true story.

Because someone looks a certain way does not make them automatically guilty of a crime. While firing a warning shot may have been more appropriate, if the perpetrators were trespassing the Muhr's have a right under Texas law to shoot them, and the childrens parents should be held accountable for putting their children in danger...I myself don't necassarily agree with that, but that is the way the law is written apparently.

:smoke:

These people need help. Serious, long-term help.

A matching set.

but I can kinda see firing at idiots on 4 wheelers

are you saying that the possibility of trespassing and maybe some property damage entitles you to fire on them risking wounding or god forbid killing them.

are you sarcasm impaired?

More than likely they will injure or kill themselves soon enough. You should see the trails these idiots make and you better believe they are completely bare headed too. Of course they really have no brains to protect but still, autonomic function and all that.

2 kids, 2 adults injured in Liberty County shooting


The tiny stilt house flying a rebel flag from the roof has a sign posted in front scrawled with this warning: “Trespassers will be shot. Survivers will be reshot!! Smile I will.”

It was at this most unwelcoming spot on Friday that homeowners Gale and Sheila Muhs were arrested and accused of firing a 12-gauge shotgun at four people, including two children, who were riding in a jeep and a sport utility vehicle.

They were shot as they passed in front of Muhses’ house in the Westlake subdivision south of Dayton on Thursday.

All four were injured and rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, where two remain in critical condition, including a 7-year-old boy on life support.

Chief Deputy Ken DeFoor with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said Sheila Muhs called 911 after the shooting and reported, “They’re running over our levee in big-wheel vehicles, and I shot them.”

The Muhses, both 45, are charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. They could not be reached for comment and remained in jail. No bail has yet been set.

According to investigators, Donald Coffey, 37, who lives outside the subdivision, took his children, Donald Jr., 7, and Destiny, 5, on a bouncy ride in a big-wheeled SUV down the rutted and potholed dirt roads to see the levee that encircles a fishing lake near the Trinity River.

His friend Patrick Cammack, 30, accompanied them in a jeep, investigators said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6414373.html

That coloring is....unnatural.

A great many rednecks never take of their hat except maybe to go to bed or shower, it does give them a rather odd appearance if you happen to see them without the hat.

the color in the restorative wax or something. Ugh.

did, he wouldn't be a fashion plate, and his skin looks cadaverous.

I don't much care if that guy is the Man of The Year or a Murdering Bastard. He looks UNWELL.

Pointing it out isn't "lookism." It's using the essential facilities that one was born with. Ignoring the very same is the opposite of "lookism"--a desperate attempt to pretend that there's "nothing to see here" when there plainly IS something to see.

I love how "political correctness" can cause some posters on DU to ignore the obvious in a tortured effort to pretend that someone who looks totally fucked up is somehow "normal." That ain't "normal" on a bad day, never mind a good one.

had carry permits none of this would have happened.

I wear mine on my head.

good guys with guns can always outshoot bad guys

That's why everyone should carry guns - then the good guys would always win and justice would triumph

(I hope I can omit the sarcasm tag)

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

....is a violation of forum rules. Consider yourself advised......

The sub-zombie population continues to rise.

What in the name of god do these people do for a living?

Texas has pretty liberal self-defense laws, especially in regards to trespassing. It would depend on the time of day this happened, and a few other circumstances.


I remember the discussion a few months ago when a guy shot and killed a couple of people who were breaking into his neighbor's house. He shot them as they were running away.

Somebody posted the relevant sections of Texas law, and by my reading (and a couple of other people's) was that the shooting did not fall under the definition of "justifiable homicide", even under the loose Texas laws. Several, but not all, of the conditions spelled out in the law were not met.

However, the grand jury refused to indite the guy, probably (IMO) because the two burglars were Mexicans here illegally. :mad:

not someone who crosses your property line. This would not be justifiable in any state.

At least, that's what I recall from the previous discussion on this.


It would be helpful if the relevent law was posted again. Any Texas lawyers have a few minutes???

http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/PE/content/htm/pe.002.00.000009.00.htm

Sec. 9.41. PROTECTION OF ONE'S OWN PROPERTY. (a) A person in lawful possession of land or tangible, movable property is justified in using force against another when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the other's trespass on the land or unlawful interference with the property.
(b) A person unlawfully dispossessed of land or tangible, movable property by another is justified in using force against the other when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to reenter the land or recover the property if the actor uses the force immediately or in fresh pursuit after the dispossession and:
(1) the actor reasonably believes the other had no claim of right when he dispossessed the actor; or
(2) the other accomplished the dispossession by using force, threat, or fraud against the actor.

Sec. 9.42. DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY. A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property:
(1) if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41; and
(2) when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:
(A) to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime; or
(B) to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property; and
(3) he reasonably believes that:
(A) the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means; or
(B) the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.

It's conditional; it requires that ALL of the above be true.

However, I don't think a family (including kids) driving on your property can seriously be considered a "reasonable" response to prevent or terminate trespass.

"Get off my lawn!" would probably suffice; so would a shot fired up in the air.




Now, I can imagine circumstances in which you could, under Texas law, shoot trespassing ATV riders. Like they're doing donuts on your front yard, which just makes them unreasonable destroyers of property. Or if they're using the ATVs to scare away your livestock.

But a family moving around a river, or whatever? No.

I think deadly force can only be used to stop the trespasser from committing certain listed crimes on your property, and only if lesser force is not an option. At least that's the way I remember the TX statute.

Edited to add: Oops, X_Digger already posted the actual statute above. But yes, it appears that there is no presumption of justification even if someone is on your property, which these victims weren't.

The law does not allow use of deadly force in response to simple trespassing.

in a big four wheeler were tearing around my subdivision my first thought would not be to shoot them. They both look about 60. Must be something more to this story ie drunk, meth, etc.

but that really looks like Faces of Meth material to me.

I agree they look rode hard and put away wet.
Being outdoors in the sun will make ya look that dried out.
so will heavy drinking. Notice his puffy eyebags.

Please tell me they did not breed.

To the skin. Most of the ugly comes from inside.

I am 50 years old and I live in the sun all summer and I am a cigarette smoker (for over thirty years) ... and I don't look like that!
I've had several people tell me lately that I look closer to 40 than 50.
People need to stop bashing cigarette smokers ;)

that make them look like that.

Where does it say that they wre tearing around the area? They were on public access road.

From the article:

The road cuts between the Muhses’ house and the levee that surrounds a lake. Investigators say the public has access to the road and levee.

A witness said the two vehicles never left the road and stopped only briefly to allow one child to go to the bathroom on the roadside before the shots were fired, DeFoor said.

I lived in Houston for over ten years and haven't ever seen two people that look that messed up and strange.
Apparently they live over on the NorthEAST side of Houston --- it's a lot safer over here on the NorthWEST side.

They definitely look like Meth folks to me. I hope the police got a search warrant from a judge to search their house or trailer or whatever.

I betcha they won't be bonded out and if one of the victims dies then there will be a murder charge for sure.

south Houston, Sugar Land, Baytown....

But, ignorance is everywhere, not just in Texas.

I hope they get thirty years in prison.

Gotta feel a bit for them. Obviously they don't have health care and probably think the gun is their only means of survival. Would bet anything they listen to Hannity.

please can we get everyone through junior high, high school and into college so we don't have idiots in this country any longer?

please

legally shoot people at night if they are trespassing. what a crazy, barbaric law. what if someone was running to your house for help, or to tell you there was a fire down the road, posing no threat whatsoever? you can just shoot them on approach if the sky is just right? and Texas likes it that way?

from your news link.
***"It wasn't their (the Muhs) property," DeFoor said. "State statute says legally you can shoot a trespasser at night on your property, but not on the road, and that's where they were."***

I was wondering about this specific point, but the newer article cleared up this point for me...they were on the road.

I have a friend that was killed when he was at the wrong house by mistake, and was mistaken for an intruder...can legally shoot first and ask questions later.
This law is causing a lot of people to die unnecessarily.

People are starting to get really "brave" about when they can shoot, and looks like these two did not realize that they couldn't shoot people on the road. Do you realize if they had been off the road, it's possible no charges might have been filed? I wonder about the kids, though.

enters your house. Then if you shot them on the porch, you would need to drag the body into the house...which I'm sure would be problematic if you were old, or a small woman, etc. I wonder why they changed the law? It seems delivery men would be in danger too with the way this law sounds.

In Florida, I understand you can shoot anybody anywhere as long as you feel threatened. I wonder how that's turning out?

You can only shoot someone in Florida if they are either threatening you with imminent, serious bodily harm or a forcible felony, are trying to carjack you, or are trying to criminally force entry into your occupied home--which is pretty much the same as in California or most other states. Merely "feeling threatened" is not a justification to shoot someone in Florida or anywhere else.

In most states, you can use potentially lethal force to stop them from illegally forcing their way into your home, on the theory that if they are illegally kicking your door in while you're home, they're not there to sell magazine subscriptions.

Florida gun law several years ago and people were very worried as to the consequences. I guess it turned out ok! Thanks for the clarification.

...:cry:

Nothing will happen, they'll probably get a medal!

After all those people were trespassing on their property, and they have a better case then the guy who shot two men who were trespassing on his neighbors property.

No claim.

And, shooting a bunch of kids won't endear them to ANY jury.

can't you talk about how a state is fucked up because of it's fucked up laws?

That was your statement, not "Texas Has A Fucked Up Law." And the awarding of a medal phrase was uncalled for. It's a big state, with diverse political attitudes; 3.5 million Texans voted for Obama, and studies show an inexorable trend toward Blue status. You say you want to call an entire state fucked up because of one law and one sad incident, and I'm calling you on it.....

Very violent. Very bigoted. Very much a representative of the worst that the South has to offer. Recall that it's in east Texas that motorists have been ripped off by local law enforcement.

It is a big state and it has all sorts of places and folks. I stay out of small town East Texas. On the other hand, once you get to around the Austin area and due west, the small towns can be very friendly, more like small town New Mexico. And all the big cities are pretty much ok.

and I was just curious about the whole "rules" thing. I don't understand the "awarding of a medal phrase" part of your statement either.

The Joe Horn case hinged on the question of whether the men he shot allegedly attacked him. Whether that is the case or not, it was clearly not the case here.

Reading up on it could prevent you from making such errors in the future.

Tell us. Tell us how they are the exception to statistics.

and keeping a stash of guns and bullets in the family abode is insanity.

I'm 57 and look better than that.

Look for the meth lab

SHIT.

I am 45. I fret about my laugh lines sometimes but that shit is f*cking crazy.

Meth. I'm sure of it now. They're getting some nutrition, thus no sores, but meth paranoia certainly explains the rampage against people on public property, children even, that just happen to be too close to...what? A home? A stash? A meth lab?

I've brushed agianst that stuff before and see what it does to people. But for the grace of god, and all that.

...don't cha think?

:cry: :cry: :cry:
Edit: the boy died.

One of the two above will be charged with manslaughter now. Little comfort that. :cry:

conceal carry permit. If that entire family had AK-47's and grenade launchers, the Muh's would have been history...unless they Muh's could call in air support from the Texas Air National Guard.

She's so bitter from getting beat up every night, she had to take it out on someone and it is just a regular part of his day. So much for gun rights. PROSECUTE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW!

the dude appears to be a product of incest. Goddess, I hope they didn't reproduce.

Absolutely terrible. These inbred hicks need to stop putting their fingers on the trigger and think that is the answer to everything. How about calling the police first? Idiots. I hope they rot in jail.

You can't do that legally, in Texas or anywhere else.

were the shooters "law abiding gun owners" legally in possession of their guns?

just curious...

obviously they ARE assholes with guns :mad:

That's going to make a big difference on whether they'll see jail time. You might think that's a facetious statement but it's true.

and the family's name is "Coffey". I'm betting black, although I could be wrong.

They do fly a confederate flag, but it's hard to say if they could see the victims. The fact that they hit at least three of them suggests that they could.

people. They live for their chance to shoot another human being.

One dead, three injured in shooting

Couple jailed on $25,000 bond

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6414373.html

These assholes kill a child...and the freaking bail is ONLY $25,000!?!?!?!

And...this was set by a county Justice of the Peace this morning??? It's SATURDAY...what the hell JP is in court on Saturday to do a bond hearing???? Wonder what strings got pulled on this one? The DA is considering upping the charges against these two fuck-offs to MURDER or CAPITAL murder...and the JP sets the bond at $25K????

GMAFB....:wtf:

I don't think their making bail,

I don't care that it is Texas and that it is OK to shoot people who are trespassing on your property in Texas. It is NOT OK to shoot little kids, even if they are trespassing on your property and especially if you don't warn them that they are trespassing on what you think is your property.

I don't think the law was intended for these circumstances even if the people who were shot were on someone property. Common sense and courtesy say that you ask people to leave--not, of course, if you are actually being threatened,common sense again--but, surely given these circumstances.

I hope that these people are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and are put away for life (or, given that it is Texas, put to death) so that this sends a message to others that it is not OK to just randomly shoot unarmed, non-threatening people and kids who happen to be on your property--at least not without giving them a chance to leave or explain themselves.

...most likely he had no clue what trespassing is even if he was doing this which apparently he was not.

Fuck this shit...:grr:

I hate when something like this happens in rural Texas because the stereotype that all Texans are racist, gun-toting hillbillies comes up. It grows old.

This happened in rural Texas down among the land of oil refineries. The actions were clearly not legal and they will be charged with murder. I'm an attorney but I don't practice criminal law. Maybe some one who is a criminal lawyer will weigh in with more details about this particular statute.

What I do know is that it's being perpetuated daily here at DU by smug Blue State liberals who ought to know better than to deal in blanket stereotypes and rank hatred of an entire region....

Sadly and perhaps unjustly, it is people like this who perpetuate the stereotype. And oddly enough they from Texas,

I don't think you're in need of a sarcasm smiley. My prior statement about smug Blue State liberals stands....

Oh, wait. . .

or water in a long time. What is that growth on his cheek? Nasty! Hope that family recovers. sad

What were the BAC's on these losers?

Cammack's wife, Cindy Nelton, told the Houston Chronicle that the shooting occurred over two or three minutes in "pitch darkness." It was not immediately clear if the off-roaders were ever on the Muhs' property.

Nelton said she was driving one of two vehicles at the scene when she heard a woman's voice deliver an expletive-laden order to get off the property.

"And then I heard a shot and our windows were blown out," she said.

Nelton said she stepped on the gas and screamed, "We've got kids in this vehicle! Y'all need to stop shooting!"

The suspects live in a small house on stilts with a rebel flag flying from the roof. A sign posted out front reads: "Trespassers will be shot. Survivers (sic) will be reshot!! Smile I will."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6417588.html

The Muhs tiny stilt house sits in a wooded area. The only adornment on the house is a large rebel flag flying from the roof. A hand scrawled, “no trespassing” sign would send a chill down any visitor’s spine. The sign reads, “Trespassers will be shot. Survivers (sic) will be reshot!! (sic) Smile I will.”

Clyde Christ, a neighbor of the Muhs, was operating a tractor to grade the roads near the Muhs’ house, in 2004, when Gale Muhs took out his shotgun and shot at Christ. Mr. Christ says he filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s department, but nothing was done.

Gale Muhs is known to the police, as well for his two prior drunken driving convictions. Gale Muhs works as a city maintenance worker.

http://chattahbox.com/us/2009/05/09/texas-couple-shoots-family-for-tresspassing-including-two-kids-5-and-7-years-old/