News Summary
In Dallas, two bounty hunters, Jorge Moncivais and Rodney Brown, have been charged with murder after a shooting that killed Drew Knowles. The incident occurred while the bounty hunters attempted to arrest Knowles, who was fleeing from outstanding warrants. Surveillance shows they were not in immediate danger when they fired at Knowles’ vehicle. The case raises questions about the legality and regulations governing bounty hunters in Texas as community concerns grow about private enforcement actions.
Dallas – Two bounty hunters have been charged with murder following a fatal shooting that took place Thursday morning in the 2700 block of Florence Street, near downtown Dallas. The incident left 32-year-old Drew Knowles dead after bounty hunters Jorge Moncivais, 23, and Rodney Brown, 34, fired multiple shots into his vehicle as he attempted to evade arrest.
Knowles was pronounced dead at the scene after crashing his vehicle into a light pole at the intersection of Cantegral and Live Oak streets. At the time of the incident, he was being pursued for outstanding arrest warrants related to theft of property and credit card abuse. The bounty hunters, who are employees of Code 3 Investigation and Security, used automated license plate readers to track Knowles’ vehicle prior to the confrontation.
According to police reports, Moncivais and Brown boxed in Knowles’ vehicle to prevent his escape. When Knowles attempted to flee, the bounty hunters discharged their weapons, hitting him in the back of his arm and upper back. Surveillance footage has since revealed that the two bounty hunters were not in danger of being run over when they opened fire.
Both Moncivais and Brown are currently being held in Dallas County Jail on a $500,000 bond each. Notably, their security licenses had expired in May, and they were not authorized to display a firearm during the incident. Moncivais reportedly was not wearing any clothing to identify him as a bounty hunter, while Brown did wear a vest indicating “warrant services.” The circumstances have raised questions regarding the individuals’ authority and the appropriateness of their actions during the attempted arrest.
The chaotic scene, described by witnesses as reminiscent of the “wild, wild West,” not only involved the tragic loss of life but also led to a temporary power outage that affected approximately 2,400 customers in the area. Law enforcement continues to investigate the incident, assessing both the actions of the bounty hunters and the protocols they followed during the arrest attempt.
The Texas Department of Public Safety oversees regulations concerning bounty hunters in the state. However, unlike police officers, bounty hunters do not adhere to the same use-of-force guidelines, which has become a point of contention in ongoing discussions regarding their operational limits and accountability.
As the case develops, the future legal representation status of Moncivais and Brown remains uncertain. With serious charges filed against them, discussions among legal experts about the implications of the bounty hunters’ actions are ongoing, shedding light on the role of private enforcement in Texas and the safeguards in place to protect civil rights.
The tragic outcome of this incident has reignited debate on the regulations surrounding bounty hunting in Texas, as well as the procedures in place for ensuring that similar violent occurrences do not happen in the future. The Dallas community is left grappling with the aftermath of this event as further investigations unfold.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Shooting Near Downtown Dallas Leaves One Dead
Bounty Hunters in Custody After Fatal Shooting in Dallas
Additional Resources
- NBC DFW: Bounty Hunters Boxed In Wanted Man Before Fatal Shooting
- Wikipedia: Bounty Hunting
- Fox 4 News: 2 Charged with Murder in Old East Dallas Shooting
- Google Search: Bounty Hunting Regulations Texas
- Dallas News: Alleged Gunmen in Fatal Old East Dallas Shooting Were Bounty Hunters
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Law Enforcement
- Dallas Express: Bounty Hunters Charged with Murder After Fatal Shooting
- Google News: Bounty Hunters Shooting Dallas
