Surely there is more to this story.

https://www.kbtx.com/2026/01/12/man-charged-with-murder-after-he-shot-killed-an-armed-home-intruder-police-say/?outputType=amp

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BIG SPRING, Texas (KOSA/Gray News) A man in Texas is charged with murder after he shot and killed a home intruder, police said.

The Big Spring Police Department said it responded to the shooting Friday night.

Responding officers found Joel Adrian Florez, 43, and a 40-year-old woman standing outside the home.

Florez told officers there was a gunshot victim inside the home, later identified as 36-year-old Phillip Samuel Lozano.
Investigators found that Lozano, who was armed, forced his way into the home and was shot by Florez. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The police department determined there was probable cause to charge Florez with murder.

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This isn't the whole story. Maybe he wasn't actually an intruder?

Texas 9.32 is pretty clear, homeowner is presumed to have acted reasonably for using self defense against an intruder.

(b) The actor's belief under Subsection (a)(2) that the deadly force was immediately necessary as described by that subdivision is presumed to be reasonable if the actor:

(1) knew or had reason to believe that the person against whom the deadly force was used:

(A) unlawfully and with force entered, or was attempting to enter unlawfully and with force, the actor's occupied habitation, vehicle, or place of business or employment;

oh no said:

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Baby Billy said:

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Surely there is more to this story.

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The police department determined there was probable cause to charge Florez with murder.

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I damn near guarantee you there will be more to the story.

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Guy shoots other guy banging his GF (article just says "40 year old woman".

1) Armed with what?
2) Was he still holding said weapon at time of death?

Those two answers could be relevant (I think)

Little Rock Ag said:

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Baby Billy said:

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Surely there is more to this story.

https://www.kbtx.com/2026/01/12/man-charged-with-murder-after-he-shot-killed-an-armed-home-intruder-police-say/?outputType=amp

Quote:

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BIG SPRING, Texas (KOSA/Gray News) A man in Texas is charged with murder after he shot and killed a home intruder, police said.

The Big Spring Police Department said it responded to the shooting Friday night.

Responding officers found Joel Adrian Florez, 43, and a 40-year-old woman standing outside the home.

Florez told officers there was a gunshot victim inside the home, later identified as 36-year-old Phillip Samuel Lozano.
Investigators found that Lozano, who was armed, forced his way into the home and was shot by Florez. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The police department determined there was probable cause to charge Florez with murder.

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Agreed. I suspect there was a previous altercation, perhaps over the woman in question.

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Yeah... I wonder if the home owner's doorbell cam caught him "daring" the intruder to come in the house. That would surely change things from a stand your ground perspective.

There is undoubtedly more to the story not reported yet. Otherwise, this is open and shut justified self defense.

AozorAg said:

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There is undoubtedly more to the story not reported yet. Otherwise, this is open and shut justified self defense.

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Yep. Without additional details, it's hard to even speculate as to what happened. Could be something like what waitwhat? suggested. It could be evidence that the homeowner continued to shoot after the intruder was no longer a threat, but I have no idea how police would determine that without witness testimony or video evidence.

Slicer97 said:

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AozorAg said:

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to hazardThere is undoubtedly more to the story not reported yet. Otherwise, this is open and shut justified self defense.

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Yep. Without additional details, it's hard to even speculate as to what happened. Could be something like what waitwhat? suggested. It could be evidence that the homeowner continued to shoot after the intruder was no longer a threat, but I have no idea how police would determine that without witness testimony or video evidence.

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Were I to hazard a guess without more facts, it would be an imperfect self defense wherein the shooter somehow was an instigator/original aggressor and failed to adequately disengage clearly enough to reestablish the innocence element of self defense.

To be clear, one can be the original instigator but has to meaningfully and obviously disengage in order to reestablish that innocence factor.

ETA: Or too many shots. Self defense for maybe the first shot but then continued shooting after the threat was neutralized.

Ol_Ag_02 said:

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My guess… It was his own home and the guy who shot him was banging his girl.

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Sanchez

County pulled in everyone to investigate the murder.



PRESS RELEASE
On the 9th of January 2026 at approximately 10:32 PM, Big Spring Police Department officers were dispatched to the 2600 block of Langley Drive in reference to shots being fired.
Upon arrival Officers made contact with Joel Adrian Florez, W/M, 43 years of age, along with a white female, 40 years of age, who were standing outside the residence. Officers were advised that a gunshot victim within Florez' residence identified as, Phillip Samuel Lozano Jr., W/M, 36 years of age, had allegedly forced his way into the residence while being armed and was subsequently shot by Florez within the residence. Big Spring Police Department Officers discovered that Lozano had suffered from gunshot wounds and was deceased.
Lozano was later pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace Campell.

Big Spring Police Detectives, Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers and Identification personnel then responded to the location. As a result of the investigation and evidence obtained, it was determined that probable cause existed for the charge of murder. Detectives subsequently obtained a Murder arrest warrant for Joel Adrian Florez, W/M, 43 years of age. Florez was later arrested on 1/10/2026 at approximately 8:57pm and booked into the Howard County Detention Center for the offense of Murder.
This investigation is still ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.
Chief of Police, Chad Williams
Administrative Lieutenant, Amie Taft

https://www.bigspringherald.com/news/howard-county-resident-charged-with-murder/article_b3865fc6-2804-4cff-80fe-f34440d347bf.html

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Big Spring Police Department Officers discovered that Lozano had suffered from gunshot wounds and was deceased.

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So multiple shots, then.

NM. It actually does.

Has to be more to this but strange it wouldn't be released but that a dead armed intruder shot to death was released

Rangers are possibly the only ones with the resources for a murder investigation in Howard County

Multiple gunshot wounds alone wouldn't be enough for any kind of charge.

Someone breaks into your home, shoot to kill and that means more than one bullet.

Now, if he was on the ground, injured but alive, and was then shot execution style, that would draw a murder charge for sure.

None of us know the full story but I highly doubt a jury in that part of Texas finds him guilty.

Multiple shots in the back or shot execution style after he was "dead" is what I'm thinking.

Rapier108 said:

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Multiple gunshot wounds alone wouldn't be enough for any kind of charge.

Someone breaks into your home, shoot to kill and that means more than one bullet.

Now, if he was on the ground, injured but alive, and was then shot execution style, that would draw a murder charge for sure.

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Saw a video of an incident showing exactly that. Dude is at a counter in some store. Security video feed showed two thugs jump him from behind and start wailing on him and trying to steal his bag/backpack. Dude pulls his gun and drops them both. One of the thugs is down and either dead or unconscious. The other is writhing on the floor and appears not to have full use of his limbs, like a bullet clipped his spine or a major nerve. Dude steps back, collects himself for a second, grabs his bag and heads for the door still holding his pistol. As he walks past the writhing thug, he takes quick aim and domes the thug before heading out.

Everything he did up until the last shot was kosher. That last shot is going to send him to prison for a while.

Kenneth_2003 said:

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Rangers are possibly the only ones with the resources for a murder investigation in Howard County

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Makes sense.

HTownAg98 said:

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Multiple shots in the back or shot execution style after he was "dead" is what I'm thinking.

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This is a good guess.

Mayor West said:

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Florez and Lozano…2 white males

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Yep. That makes me want to dismiss all aspects of the investigation.

Principal Uncertainty said:

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HTownAg98 said:

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Multiple shots in the back or shot execution style after he was "dead" is what I'm thinking.

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This is a good guess.

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Without eyewitness testimony that this happened, they likely won't get a conviction. A good defense attorney can raise all sorts of reasonable doubt scenarios just with cross examination of officers/investigators.

This isn't an old west TV show: shooting someone in the back, regardless of where it is on the body, doesn't necessarily imply murder -- or even a criminal act. Could be the guy had already lawyered up and isn't talking. I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) murder in Texas is still intentionally or knowingly. Firing too many shots isn't going to reach that standard. Even if someone is on the floor, if they have access to their weapon, they haven't been "stopped."

I'm going to have a next to impossible time as a juror convicting ANYONE who shoots someone who has broken into the shooter's house. I can not envision any scenario where I would convict anyone in that situation of murder and likely no crime at all. This is the top of the food chain of FAFO.

There would have to be obvious evidence they staged the break-in after killing the guy and/or show this was a planned event to get a guilty conviction

Maybe shot him outside and dragged him in…