Dramatic footage of a fatal shooting of a man that stemmed from a heated argument with his father-and-son neighbors over a mattress has been released.
A West Texas man was shot and killed on September 1 and a father and son were arrested on murder charges over what a police chief calls a neighborhood dispute about trash.
Police responded to calls about shots fired around 10:15 a.m. and located the victim, 37-year-old Aaron Howard, who died at a hospital.
John Miller, 67, and 31-year-old Michael Miller were arrested on murder charges over the death of Howard.
John Miller, 67, and 31-year-old Michael Miller were arrested on murder charges and both are accused of shooting Aaron Howard on September 1 in Abilene, Texas
Dramatic footage of the fatal shooting has been released to the news media. John Miller is seen right holding a pistol while his son, Michael, is seen a few feet behind him holding what appears to be a shotgun
In the cell phone video captured by Howard’s fiancee Kara Box, Howard is seen briefly on the far left
The argument took place in an alley behind Howard’s home on Don Juan Street in Abilene. The argument becomes even more heated as both sides make threats against the other. Finally, John Miller pulls the trigger on his pistol, though this is not captured by video
Moments later, his son, Michael Miller, also shoots Howard. This is clearly evident in the footage
Howard’s fiancee, Kara Box, used her cell phone to film the argument which led to the shooting.
The argument took place in an alley behind Howard’s home on Don Juan Street in Abilene.
Box then provided the footage to a local television station – KTXS-TV.
It shows both John and Michael Miller holding firearms.
The father has a pistol in his right hand while the son, standing just a few feet behind him, is gripping what appears to be a shotgun.
The two shirtless men are holding the weapons while engaged in a verbal confrontation with Howard.
Howard is heard in the video yelling at the Millers to put their guns down.
‘If you come closer to me, I’m gonna kill you,’ John Miller is heard telling Howard.
‘Hey, did you hear him say he’s going to kill me?’ Howard says to Box as she’s filming.
‘Yes,’ Box replies.
‘I’m at the dumpster,’ Howard says before turning to the Millers. ‘Put the gun up and go inside!’
The argument becomes even more heated as both sides make threats against the other.
Finally, John Miller pulls the trigger on his pistol, though this is not captured by video.
Howard is heard in the video yelling at the Millers to put their guns down
Just before Howard is shot, Box tries to get between the three men. ‘You can see that I step between them and I said, “You’re not gonna shoot my husband”,’ she told KTXS-TV
‘People deserve to know what actually happened,’ Box says when asked why she decided to release the footage to a television news broadcast. ‘They deserve to know that John and Michael Miller are murderers’
Box has since moved from the home on Don Juan Street near where the shooting took place. She is seen with her late fiancee in the above file photo
Moments later, his son, Michael Miller, also shoots Howard. This is clearly evident in the footage.
Just before Howard is shot, Box tries to get between the three men.
‘You can see that I step between them and I said, “You’re not gonna shoot my husband”,’ she told KTXS-TV.
Box said that John Miller ‘fired past my head.’
She then ran toward her husband amidst the chaos. In total, four shots were fired.
‘People deserve to know what actually happened,’ Box says when asked why she decided to release the footage to a television news broadcast.
‘They deserve to know that John and Michael Miller are murderers.’
Taylor County District Attorney James Hicks only learned of the existence of the video from KTXS-TV.
‘Video evidence like this is always graphic and very difficult to watch,’ he said in a statement.
‘But it is consistent with the charges.’
When asked what message she had for John and Michael Miller, Box said: ‘You deserve to spend your lives in prison.’
Box has since moved from the home on Don Juan Street near where the shooting took place.
John and Michael Miller have been freed on $25,000 bond.