Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Break-in artist mishandles Grand Prairie home invasion, shoots self dead

Comments (55)

Cameron Sands, 19 - a resident of Forth Worth - attempted to break into a Grand Prairie home in the 2800 block of Garden Grove Rd. early Wed. morning (June 18). In the process of shoving his pistol into his waistband for safe-keeping (after shooting at the homeowner), Sands shot himself in the lower abdomen.

Police pronounced him dead at the scene.

posted by JM

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Comments

Pavel Lishin Verified

Texas is so hardcore, even the burglars shoot themselves.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

Brilliant! Nothing in the world like instant Karma!

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Camsauntie Anonymous

Our family is grieving enough we dont need to read this stupid BS... Cameron was a very good kid he just got woth the wrong crowd.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Clay213 Anonymous

19 isn't a kid.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

xdavidwattsx Anonymous

Who said Darwin was wrong?

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

palchik Anonymous

What does one need to do to not be considered a "good kid" these days?

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

12ozfred Anonymous

It is sad that he passed away but man...this guy tried to invade a house in the early hours of the day, and shot at the homeowner! The "wrong crowd" excuse...how many times have we heard that one??? If he acted alone then there is no need to blame the "crowd"...and I doubt the whole "crowd" was there to help him kick the door down.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

littlekinder Anonymous

Camsauntie -

I am sorry for your loss. I am sure you are hurting.

But another family could be hurting in the same way if his shot was more accurate.

I'm sure he was loved by everyone in his family, but at some point all of us are responsible for our own actions, regardless of who influences us. And I do think 19 is old enough for that responsibility. That's not BS, and I'm sure you know that. I'm sorry things turned out as they did.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

littlekinder – I admire your patience.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

I tend to agree with palchik and 12ozfred makes a good point.

No matter that - in some cases - folks considered "of age" are certain they are indestructible and are above the law/unconcerned with laws ... either universal or legal... I can promise you that if one doesn't get 'em, the other will. Sometimes both come down on 'em.

Just my opinion, but one probably relinquishes the title of "very good kid" when he arms himself, travels to the next county to break into a home and shoot at the homeowner.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

Let's go easy on Camsauntie, though - obviously she's going through the "blame others" stage of grief, and unless she bought Cam a handgun and asked him to wreak havoc, she's one of the innocent victims here.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

webmiester Anonymous

We should be sympathetic to Cameron Sands, I agree. He didn't mean to buy an unregistered handgun. He didn't mean to break into that house and shoot himself accidentally -- he was aiming for the homeowner. He just missed, that's all. We should feel sorry for this innocent break-in artist. All the homeowners who can sleep in peace should all be ashamed of themselves!

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

webmaster,

You make a good point, but your facts are a bit askew.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

Sorry, it's webMIESTER...not webmaster.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

The worst part being that because he shot himself instead of the homeowner shooting him, there is no one to sue! Sniffle...

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Jason Rice Verified

Yeah, jtmbls, wanna join me for a candle light vigil for the lost attorneys fees?

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle Verified

Heh...maybe homeowner shot him and couldn't drag him inside (as Mr. Yost would), so he planted a gun.

Either way, severely doubt the guy was selling vacuums - nobody's getting my sympathy on this one.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

Mr. Sands was found in the driveway, so perhaps the home-owner did drag him out there.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle Verified

:smacks forehead:

Pavel, I was referring to this comment. Concern is that you're not defending your castle if you mow down someone outside of it...so when you shoot random people in your yard, you drag 'em inside before calling the cops.

No clue how old or physically fit the homeowners are - perhaps they shot before asking questions, couldn't move the body, and were left no choice but to plant the gun on him after the fact. Simply staying objective.

Doesn't change that he was likely trying to break-in, though - either way, got what was coming to him imo.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

Well Jason, if Doyle doesn’t stop strategizing for the potential plaintiff, we may not need to after all.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Jason Rice Verified

Yeah, Doyle has obviously had his caffeine today. I'm only following the thread till Yost weighs in.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle Verified

Birthday shots were my undoing. Hungover = little motivation to work, lots of motivation to peg.

And don't judge me for thinking outside the box!

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Jason Rice Verified

Box? Box? You even remember there was once a box? Now I'm impressed. I thought you just lived out there having forgotten your way home.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

Did your duck have a birthday?

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost Verified

Stupid is as stupid does.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost Verified

I don't get around like I used to, but I guarantee you, if Doyle came to my door with a gun, and I shot him, I'd manage to drag his crying and sniveling heap into my living room.
Why should I risk an assailant suing me for their stupidity.
Sometimes you have to protect yourself from those intent on using the law against you. (Damn, did I say that out loud?)

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost Verified

No offense intended Mr. Doyle- your name just came to mind.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

OK Scott Doyle ...if you shoot an armed burglar outside the home in a driveway - then drag him inside, isn't there blood outside where he was shot? Do you drag him back out again after he bleeds inside a bit?? How quickly do you have to move to accomplish all this traveling before he runs outta blood?

Just askin'... Sheesh this got gruesome.

Oh yeah, IMO more folks should think outside the box!

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

BobS Anonymous

Doyle, hangover, sniveling, birthday shots, duck ...

The lighter side of a failed attempted murder/robbery.

Don't worry Rick. At one time or another we all want to pummel Scott. (Or at least wait till he's passed out and dress him like Chita Rivera and dump him in a park.)

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

Obviously you drag him inside, then drag him back out over the same blood trail - that way, you can claim you shot him inside and then retreated, and he crawled outside on his own power before expiring.

I mean, uh, not that I've given this a lot of thought or anything.

But don't break into my place. I don't know if I'd give a burglar the chance to press charges.

And BobS, if you entertain dreams of wrestling Scott, I highly advise you to attend a birthday barhop. It always takes... extra diplomacy to convince him that he needs to get in the car so we can go home.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle Verified

Lower Greenville is built for birthdays, my friends: Many bars in close proximity of each other who give free birthday shots. Unfortunately, the next 24 ain't that grand. The dawn of this revolution around the sun hasn't been easy on my duck.

Rick, no worries. In fact, my intelligence is more insulted than anything. Clearly I'd farm out the hit to a hobo working for a sandwich - oh_sweet_irony! Just gotta be sure to pick a good crazy one so I'll have an alibi if he sings in the interrogation room.

Kay, I honestly figured a water hose would do the trick on the blood...but dragging in and back out is quite the idea. Noted.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

ch0 Anonymous

Yuk it up, clowns! A young man is dead, and a nice lakeside suburban neighborhood's innocence is shattered!

If someone threatens your life and there is no retreat, you disable them, then you tell the truth when the Law arrives. What else is there? Your schemes only muddy perceptions of your intent. Deal in truth, then die according.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Kay Anonymous

chO

JMO: Admittedly this place is full of clowns... but noone was serious about lying to authorities. Noone was trying to muddy up the investigation.

BTW I guess you never spent any behind the scenes time with those in law enforcement or hospital care givers/workers or funeral directors? This is not uncommon conversation...even by those 'on the scene'.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost Verified

cho- Yes a young man IS dead, by his own foolish hand. And shattered innocence is usually costly, but if learned from it can be positive.

Many of us here DO deal in the truth. But if you think just dealing in truth will keep you from dying needlessly, talk to those released from years in prison by DNA testing.
When it comes to legal matters you may find yourself dealing with someone else's truth.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

"a nice lakeside suburban neighborhood's innocence is shattered!"

Uh, have you been to Grand Prarie?

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

owee Anonymous

I am Cameron's big sister and whatever story you all read is absolutely incorrect...if you actually knew the true story behind my brother's death then you all would not say such stupidity!!! I hope none of you have to go through the pain and torture of such lies, but then again I DO hope that your child or sibling passes away and they lie about the nature of their death. And then remember my comment...and I hope you feel like the stupid fks that you are!!!

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Clay213 Anonymous

HE WAS FRAMED!

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Jason Rice Verified

Hey, this does pose and interesting and difficult question - probably addressed in 500 other threads that I'm just too lazy to have discovered yet -- but let's say you know a reported story to be false, what libel/slander/ethics preclude you from just blurting it out with details you have at hand in a forum like this? I do fear that kind of behavior decays rapidly to gossip-mongering but I really wonder what some precedents are.

Cuss at me for bandwidth waste here, but do it with links interspersed, please.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rick Yost Verified

owee- Please accept my sincere condolences for the loss of your brother.

If what you say is true, and the story we read was incorrect, maybe you could tell us your side. What really happened?

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Clay213 Anonymous

"let's say you know a reported story to be false, what libel/slander/ethics preclude you from just blurting it out with details you have at hand"

Huh?

Truth can not be libelous, so I don't understand your question.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Jason Rice Verified

Then you're not the one I need an answer from. When I need an argument on semantics, I'll give you a call. Thanks the same.

1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Clay213 Anonymous

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

12 months ago

Mike Orren Staff

Clay & Jason: So testy for a holiday. I removed Clay's comment because the language was o'er the line.

To Jason's original question: The EFF has a good guide on defamation, etc: http://w2.eff.org/bloggers/lg/

In posting comments, you are responsible for your own words. The truth is the best shield against a claim, but anyone can file a law suit that can be costly to defend.

12 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Jason Rice Verified

DUH! The EFF -- Now I'm embarrassed. Thank you. That should keep me busy and out of trouble for a while. Mitch and co. I must be sleeping.

12 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

flowe Anonymous

Let me get this right big sister! You hope that someone else's family member dies so they can feel that pain. What a idiotic comment. Not very mature. Your brother did not deserve to die but he was not a good kid. He was a immature adult who made a very bad decision to break in and shoot at someone and he paid the ultimate price. You have been telling everyone that he was murdered and dumped on the side of the road due to a drug deal gone bad. Yes, I know who you are. I felt really bad for Cameron when I thaught that he was an innocent victim. Now that I know the truth about what really happened, I feel duped. Again, I wish Cameron was still here but don't lash out at these people online that are not making stipid comments. For those who are your idiots too! Be reasonable people. Big sister and Auntie, when defending Cameron make sure you represent yourself and him accordingly.

11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

flowe Anonymous

What I meant to say was for those who are making racist or idiotic comments about Cameron's death, you are idiots too!

11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

Wow! Have you been to the John Wiley Price school of interpretation? No one here even mentioned race! Where did that come from?

11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

Maybe the kid's a minority, so she just assumed someone would throw out some mention of race.

11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Jason Rice Verified

My bad. My fault. I thought "beige, yeah beige looks good with those shoes" once while typing and that gets us right back into the Pantone nightmare.

Mea culpa.

11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

Oh that's just awesome, so now it's just a given! The mind police will be here any minute now...

Good going Jason! Haven't you caused enough trouble already?

Cool shades btw.

11 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

flowe Anonymous

You idiots! If you look at the postings people have made you will see the racist comment. It states " One less Ni*r!". Maybe it was removed, but I saw it.

11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

Flowe, you must be thinking of a different site. Even if someone here thought that, nobody would be dumb enough to post it.

I'm sure others have said this - but don't project onto us, please.

11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Mike Orren Staff

I can verify that no such comment was ever posted here. The only comment removed from this thread is clearly marked and it was not racial in nature.

11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

EmpyreanEvents Anonymous

Oh great..

Now people will think I made the comment.

11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Jason Rice Verified

Oh, yeah. Even if it wasn't a long-standing social taboo, Pavel would have a friggin' field day with you. And nobody likes making anything easy for Pavel.

And yeah, I missed the shades, too. So they're back - without David ;o)

11 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

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