Lubbock shooting of Chad Read heads to Texas Attorney General

The case has enough connections to public officials that Lubbock’s district attorney has recused herself from the case.

Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images/iStockphoto

More details are unfurling about the shooting of Chad Read and those involved as speculation about the Texas shooting swirls online.

Read was shot and killed on November 5 during an argument at the Lubbock home of Kyle Carruth, who is dating Read’s ex-wife and mother of his children Christina. Read was there to pick up his son. The shooting gained attention online after Read’s current wife Jennifer and her family shared videos calling for police to arrest Carruth.

The incident caught the attention of Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action — a nonprofit that advocates for public safety measures to protect people from gun violence. Watts shared a TikTok video from Madison Faye Luscombe who is believed to be the daughter of Jennifer. The November 15 TikTok shows family comforting a grieving Jennifer while toasting to the late Read.

@madisonfayeluscombe

We are tired, we are angry, we want justice. ##justiceforchad @theweavess @natalie_weaver @Stephanie Kling McEw

♬ original sound – Madison Faye Luscomb

Read’s wife has now released video of the November 5 shooting in Lubbock through her attorney. In light of the high-profile Kyle Rittenhouse acquittal, social media is now debating whether the shooting was self-defense or murder.

Carruth has yet to be charged or arrested and his attorneys are arguing self-defense.

To help wade through all the speculation, here’s what we know about the case so far.

What happened to Chad Read?

Read, 54, showed up to Carruth’s home on November 5 to pick up his son.
An argument ensued on the porch between Carruth and Read.
In the video, Carruth tells Read that his son isn’t at the home.
Carruth goes into his home and returns with a gun telling Read to leave.
Read appears to grab the gun and swings Carruth around.
Carruth backs away and shoots Read who falls face down on the porch.
The graphic video released by Read’s current wife Jennifer can be seen here.

Kyle’s case for self-defense

David M. Guinn, Carruth’s attorney, says the shooting was self-defense.
Guinn points out in the video that Read yells “use it, mother f***er,” and threatens to take the gun away from Carruth.
Guinn tells KAMC’s Everything Lubbock he believes Read was looking for a confrontation with Carruth.
Investigators with Lubbock Police have not publicly announced if they believe the incident was self-defense.

The aftermath

News outlets like Everything Lubbock uncovered Kyle as the shooter from records of an ongoing divorce case with his ex-wife, State District Judge Ann-Marie Carruth.
In a November 8 affidavit obtained by lubbockonline.com, Ann-Marie filed saying her ex-husband “is under investigation for the shooting and killing of his girlfriend’s children’s father after he attempted to pick up his children.”
Those divorce records have since been sealed at the request of Ann-Marie. She made the request on September 30.
After releasing the video, Read’s current wife filed a petition in district court on November 24 for custody of his children.
In the petition, Read’s wife says their mother is endangering the children by keeping them around “the man who murdered their father.”
The case has been referred to the Texas Attorney General after Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney Sunshine Stanek recused herself.