this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2025
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The homeowner told police the two men said they were police and claimed they were at the home to serve a warrant.

[The homeowner] became suspicious, because, you know, they have a ring camera too, and the suspects were saying they had a warrant, but it was just two people and they're masked up and no police cars, no lights or anything like that," said Lt. Khan with HPD.

At some point, police said the men shot at the homeowner through the door, prompting the homeowner to return fire.

The homeowner was not hurt in the gunfire, but the two men were both hit and pronounced dead at the scene.

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[–] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 447 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (6 children)

I was surprised that the masked men weren't law enforcement. Police hiding their faces because fascism is just standard procedure under President Epstein.

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 256 points 3 weeks ago (7 children)

Police said if you're ever unsure whether it is really the police outside your door, there are some signs to look for.

"Obviously, a police car with some sort of lights and sirens and a bullhorn where we'll be announcing ourselves," HPD Detective Kyle Stringer told Choi.

Stringer noted that real officers do not wear ski masks.

An interesting development

[–] transientpunk@sh.itjust.works 195 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I love that I read your comment, then backed out to the main feed and the very next post is of a pig wearing what is effectively a ski mask

[–] logicbomb@lemmy.world 124 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Stringer noted that real officers do not wear ski masks.

the very next post is of a pig wearing what is effectively a ski mask

The logical conclusion is that that is not a real officer.

[–] frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone 56 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Then somebody should be arresting them for impersonating an officer.

That's what happened, right?

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[–] bajabound@lemmy.world 34 points 3 weeks ago

It's an easy mistake - good guys wear balaclavas, criminals wear ski masks. Kind of like how the bad guy used to wear a black hat. /s

[–] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 94 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

“Obviously, a police car with some sort of lights and sirens and a bullhorn where we’ll be announcing ourselves,”

They always announce themselves except when they don't: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-knock_warrant

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[–] lectricleopard@lemmy.world 43 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

Lies. ACAB.

This is gaslighting at this point. We all see the pigs with masks. We've all seen plainclothes officers in undercover cars make traffic stops.

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 43 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I’m reading it as the quoted police officer is telling us it’s ok to shoot the masked kidnapper-variety police.

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[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 51 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This has been happening for years, Apple even made a TV show about it.

Cops say they do no knocks and mask up for their own safety...

But this is America and people are even more on edge then ever. I honestly can't believe more actual cops haven't been shot by mistake yet.

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[–] atomicorange@lemmy.world 218 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Schrödinger’s cop. Every masked creep with a power complex is simultaneously a dangerous criminal you should shoot on sight for your own protection and a police officer with qualified immunity. The waveform collapses when you get tried for murder, if you win it was a criminal all along, but if you get the electric chair it was a cop.

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 38 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 187 points 3 weeks ago (18 children)

"Stringer noted that real officers do not wear ski masks."

It's going to be very, very interesting to see how this one turns out!

Always a good idea to be aware of lethal force rules where you live:

In this case, Houston, Texas:

https://www.houstoncriminallaw.com/blog/self-defense-or-assault-when-using-force-is-justified-under-texas-law/

"The Role of the Castle Doctrine in Texas

The Castle Doctrine is a key element of Texas self-defense laws. This principle allows individuals to use force, including deadly force, to protect themselves in their homes, vehicles, or workplaces without a duty to retreat. Under Texas law, your “castle” is considered a place where you have a legal right to be, and force may be justified when:

Someone unlawfully enters or attempts to enter your home.

The intruder is committing or attempting to commit a violent act, such as robbery or assault.

You reasonably believe force is necessary to protect yourself or others.

There are some limitations to this principle. For example, the use of force is typically not justified if the intruder is retreating or if you initiated the altercation."

So, assuming the story is accurate, and remember, initial reports are almost always INACCURATE...

"At some point, police said the men shot at the homeowner through the door, prompting the homeowner to return fire."

So, yeah, as soon as they shot through the door, Castle Doctrine is in play.

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 53 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

So, yeah, as soon as they shot through the door, Castle Doctrine is in play.

Standard self defense law also covers this in every US state and most countries; if someone is shooting at you and there's no way to quickly get to a place where they can't hit you, it's legal to kill them to make them stop.

[–] Nougat@fedia.io 37 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

And what you want to say (with an attorney present) is that you used necessary force to eliminate the threat.

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[–] _stranger_@lemmy.world 173 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

I feel the headline should have noted that he shot in response to them shooting through his goddamn door first.

[–] outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com 40 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Journalistic reflex; cops are always innocent.

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[–] TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com 151 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (6 children)

lots of us said that this would be exactly what would be happening with masked police using constant escalation dominance as a tactic.

this is civil war behavior from a civilization.

it will also lead to blood feuds between people and the police as a whole. i expect to see more actual police police getting ambushed even if they are in a sanctuary city and are not acting to aid ICE.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 51 points 3 weeks ago

expect to see more actual police police getting ambushed even if they are in a sanctuary city and are not acting to aid ICE.

Unless the cops start shooting ICE on sight for the safety of their neighborhood, they are complicit and get what they deserve.

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[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 134 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

Quote "Stringer noted that real officers do not wear ski masks. "

So law enforcement just went on record saying ICE agents with masks are not actually law enforcement.

[–] meep_launcher@sh.itjust.works 35 points 2 weeks ago (6 children)

I feel like if someone dressed up as ice and joined in a raid only to cause internal chaos could deeply hinder the operations of ICE as they all become suspicious of each other and lose trust in their team.

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[–] ssfckdt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 133 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

HPD Detective Kyle Stringer told Choi.... that real officers do not wear ski masks.

🤔

[–] lemmy_outta_here@lemmy.world 51 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Detective Stringer doesn’t watch the news.

[–] WalterLego@lemmy.zip 42 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Detective Stringer makes a well calculated statement about his stance on ICE.

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[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 93 points 3 weeks ago

Good for the homeowner. Any "law enforcement officer" who hide their faces and wont show ID are probably acting criminally and they should not be tolerated by society.

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 84 points 3 weeks ago

Good. ICE and lookalikes are cut from the same putrid cloth, that is best disposed of.

[–] treadful@lemmy.zip 72 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Police said if you're ever unsure whether it is really the police outside your door, there are some signs to look for.

"Obviously, a police car with some sort of lights and sirens and a bullhorn where we'll be announcing ourselves," HPD Detective Kyle Stringer told Choi.

Sir, please go turn on your siren and announce yourself on the bullhorn so I can confirm you're a real cop.

How is that their actual advice...

[–] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 49 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Context. He immediately followed it up with:

Stringer noted that real officers do not wear ski masks.

I don't think this is the officer to complain about.

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[–] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 71 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

ICE wear masks, and no-knock warrants are a thing.

Kudos to the home owner for being vigilant and shooting BACK once they opened fire

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[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 64 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Probably realised they weren't real police because they knocked rather than just kicked his door in and shot his dog.

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[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 64 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Can we Gofundme him a new door?

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[–] jimjam5@lemmy.world 60 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Hope the homeowner is acquitted of any wrongdoing or damages in court.

[–] burntbacon@discuss.tchncs.de 44 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

It's texas. He'll probably get a medal or something from his local law enforcement and a round of talk shows on fox if the colors line up with what fox likes/doesn't like.

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 38 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (26 children)

I'm from the area. It all depends on how white and Republican you are. They stack the Grand Juries with "respectable members" of the community (white, male business owners typically) who no-bill white folk for killing minorities.

In a very public case, a white small business owner/homeowner shot 2 unarmed minorities in the back, killing both as they fled a neighbor's house. They never stepped on the killer's property and never threatened anyone. The homeowner called 911 and said he was going to kill them and get away with it. The operator said not to shoot and to go inside because police were just seconds away, and he killed them anyway.

The grand jury refused to let the prosecutor take the case to trial because killing black people is a public benefit in their eyes.

So the families of the victims sued the killer, and the state responded by outlawwing civil suits over any case involving a firearm that didn't first include a felony conviction.

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[–] BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world 36 points 2 weeks ago

If it was cops or ICE, everything else the same, they would definitely be in custody on a $100 million bond and charged with murder and terrorism.

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[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 55 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Stringer noted that real officers do not wear ski masks.

Someone tell the fascist brownshirts that work for ICE that.

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[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 47 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

KHOU 11's Michelle Choi spoke with a neighbor, who said they heard a total of 22 gunshots.

The homeowner was not hurt in the gunfire, but the two men were both hit and pronounced dead at the scene.

[–] cybervseas@lemmy.world 42 points 3 weeks ago (13 children)

I…who can count that many gunshots?

[–] teft@piefed.social 64 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)
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[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 41 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

This is why is a good idea to have an armed citizenry and well-regulated militias operating with transparency.

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[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 41 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Stringer noted that real officers do not wear ski masks.

I dunno. Depends on the agency, these days.

I hope the people directing ICE to mask up take notes of this. They won't. If they do, they'll take the wrong lesson from it.

[–] CompostMaterial@lemmy.world 31 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

No, the original statement was correct. Real law enforcement does not wear ski masks. Scared Nazi cosplayers wear ski masks.

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[–] Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 41 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)
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[–] mrslt@lemmy.world 37 points 3 weeks ago

I love happy endings.

[–] roguetrick@lemmy.world 31 points 3 weeks ago

Bullet proof vests and fake badges? Wasn't a robbery but a st Valentine's Day massacre style hit job.

[–] aramis87@fedia.io 30 points 3 weeks ago (39 children)

Is anyone else finding this story a little strange? Not someone finally shooting fake-ICE people. But:

Fake-ICE is wearing bulletproof vests and shoots at the homeowner through the door. The homeowner isn't injured. Fine.

The homeowner returns fire, through the door, hits and kills the two guys wearing bulletproof vests. Doesn't that strike anyone else as odd? Both dead, neither injured, despite bulletproof vests, despite being shot through a door?

[–] millie@slrpnk.net 40 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Not really. A bulletproof vest won't protect your head. Meanwhile they're standing directly on the other side of a door that they're shooting through, while the home owner could have been anywhere on the other side of the door. They're playing a guessing game, but the homeowner can just shoot the door at head-height and their bulletproof vests will mean nothing.

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[–] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 30 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Finally, some good wholesome news

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