Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

sl8

(13,663 posts)
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 10:52 AM Dec 2022

Maintenance worker killed at Grand Prairie apartment complex after resident believed he was ...

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/maintenance-worker-killed-grand-prairie-apartment-resident-believed-burglarized/287-1eb299c4-434f-482b-8b63-fc3302bdae0b

Maintenance worker killed at Grand Prairie apartment complex after resident believed he was being burglarized, police say

Police say the victim was checking on balconies for frozen or busted waterlines after pipes had burst throughout the complex as a result of the recent freeze.

Author: Alex Cruz
Published: 4:21 PM CST December 26, 2022
Updated: 10:43 PM CST December 26, 2022

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — An investigation is underway after a maintenance worker was fatally shot while checking on waterlines at an apartment complex in Grand Prairie on Saturday evening, police said.

[...]

According to police, a resident spotted Montelongo on his balcony, believed his apartment was being burglarized and shot Montelongo through a window.

Police said the resident stayed at the scene and cooperated with detectives. He was not arrested.

Further details are not yet being released as the investigation continues. The case will be referred to the Tarrant County grand jury for review, police said.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Maintenance worker killed at Grand Prairie apartment complex after resident believed he was ... (Original Post) sl8 Dec 2022 OP
Folks should ask questions first, before shooting! WTF 🤬 secondwind Dec 2022 #1
Shoot first, ask questions later. Diamond_Dog Dec 2022 #2
Actually, the republican way. joshdawg Dec 2022 #7
I know lots of Democrats who own guns Hangingon Dec 2022 #9
Do they shoot first and ask questions later? joshdawg Dec 2022 #11
Identifying oneself first must be a priority ...... Lovie777 Dec 2022 #3
How are you going to identify yourself to everyone in the apartment complex? enough Dec 2022 #4
'Castle Defense'. sinkingfeeling Dec 2022 #5
We encountered a "Water Emergency" on Christmas Day. Backseat Driver Dec 2022 #6
Charge the shooter with murder. Chainfire Dec 2022 #8
I saw they cleared him, but wonder if we have all the details, Hangingon Dec 2022 #10

joshdawg

(2,646 posts)
11. Do they shoot first and ask questions later?
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 11:40 PM
Dec 2022

republicans would..............well, most republicans.

Lovie777

(12,218 posts)
3. Identifying oneself first must be a priority ......
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 11:01 AM
Dec 2022

also, it works both ways, the resident should have asked first although he felt he was in danger, but still.

Who knows, the victim could have, and the resident just didn't hear him. Tragic.

enough

(13,254 posts)
4. How are you going to identify yourself to everyone in the apartment complex?
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 11:07 AM
Dec 2022

The article says the victim had been the lead maintenance worker at the complex for 16 years.

A new meaning for Stand Your Ground.

Backseat Driver

(4,379 posts)
6. We encountered a "Water Emergency" on Christmas Day.
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 11:58 AM
Dec 2022

A pipe to the outdoor faucet,, the only one that still worked in the whole complex, between our units froze; the one from which we water our North Forty Inches garden. Every year we put on an insulated hood over that faucet with an insulated cap when we put the garden to bed. The line has no access from our apartments. The neighbor called the alert in to the Fire Dept at about 3PM. Yes, there is a process...LOL, but we are sill under "new management" and do not know the maintenance staff well. We were not home. Our neighbor now has a big hole in his wall "problem" and because I often check a public safety app on my phone and saw the alert at our address, (not because the property manager or maintenance called us) because they had ALL taken off for 4 days at the holidays. I noticed the alert on that public phone app at about 6:15PM and noted it had been "cleared" in 20 minutes.


On investigation by the Fire Department, they had to pop our dead bolt to enter when no master key could be located by the single maintenance man who showed up with the 1st responders. Doggies were fine, thank goodness. We were at the kids' home for dinner 2 minutes/4 miles away. Note: they did replace the lock with our same key(?) but the front door is all scraped up.. and water was all over the carpet in the corner by all the electronics for my desktop. Thank heaven we have a carpet cleaner. DH and daughter returned immediately, spoke with neighbor, moved the furniture, and sucked up all the excess water. Now we're waiting on Tuesday, still no official contact with property managers, on an inspection. DH is now off to the office--can't wait to hear how this goes down!!!

Chainfire

(17,458 posts)
8. Charge the shooter with murder.
Tue Dec 27, 2022, 04:05 PM
Dec 2022

You can't kill what you think may be a thief by shooting them through the glass.

A clear and present danger of immediate death or great bodily harm is the only possible excuse for harming another person. Why didn't the resident just call the cops? Lock the trigger-happy SOB up and throw away the key.

Hangingon

(3,071 posts)
10. I saw they cleared him, but wonder if we have all the details,
Wed Dec 28, 2022, 01:54 PM
Dec 2022

Patio is still outdoors. If the maintenance guy entered without announcing, it could be taken as a treat. I don’t think shooting someone “because they are on your lawn” is legal.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Texas»Maintenance worker killed...