Monday night, KDFW-Channel 4 ran a piece about 70-year-old James Walton, owner of Able Walton Machine & Welding in West Dallas, who, early Sunday morning, shot and killed and man trying to break into his business. What made Walton’s story so extraordinary was that it was the second time he’d killed an intruder in three weeks.
As it happens, Walton also lives at his place of business.
But today you will not find the Fox4 story on the station’s Web site; there’s a page for it, but no accompanying video. (Update: It’s available here.) That’s because Rebecca Aguilar‘s piece elicited a torrent of outrage, both on local blogs (chiefly FrontBurner but also elsewhere) and from viewers who began deluging the station with angry calls Monday night and much of the day yesterday.
As Trey Garrison pointed out on D’s blog:
This is her idea of journalism? Ambushing a 70-year-old man who has been through life-and-death twice in three weeks? “Are you a trigger happy kind of person? Is that what what you wanted to do? Shoot to kill?” Good Lord, I hate the people in this field.
Well, Trey need not worry about Aguilar, at least for a while: Unfair Park has confirmed that Aguilar, who was just named one of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Broadcast Journalists of the Year has been indefinitely suspended, based on concerns about how Aguilar treated Walton. She could not be reached for comment, but Unfair Park did leave Aguilar a message on her cell phone. (When we tried her number in the newsroom, another woman answered and said, “Rebecca isn’t available today.” We also left a message for Maria Barrs, the station’s news director. Robert WilonskyFull Story Here:
KDFW Suspends Rebecca Aguilar After Controversial Ambush
This is the same story I had up a couple of days ago, West Dallas business owner kills 2 suspected burglars in 3 weeks about the Dallas business owner that has taken a personal interest in NOT letting the BAD GUYS rob him blind, and to that gentleman, Mr. Walton, I say GOOD for you and I am proud to have you as a resident of this area.
Well, apparently one Ms. Rebecca Aguilar, of KDFW-FOX4 here in the Dallas wasn’t so happy with Mr. Walton, the only thing I can say thats printable concerning Aguilar at this moment is, I am glad she is suspended.
I want to extend many thanks to Dan Riehl of Riehl World View: Senior Reduced To Tears By Reporter After Shooting for using my story as a part of his, thank you Dan, You Da Man!
And Dan has the video OF this story too, please pop in and take a look at what ‘hack reporting’ from KDFW-FOX4 really looks like.
Shame on Rebecca Aguilar for this trash journalism and even MORE shame on KDFW-FOX4 producers and management for letting it air in the 1st place.
EDIT for Clarification: Castle Law Doctrine - Texas Governor Rick Perry - Press Release - March 27, 2007
EDIT TO INCLUDE: Video Link from YouTube courtesy of Big White Hat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnZd-5dYXfk
Trackback URL:
http://texasfred.net/archives/651/trackback/
Even leaving out the bimbo reducing the poor man to tears, she’s a seriously crappy reporterette! I’ve seen more professionalism from pre-schoolers. And that’s who the Hispanics gave an award? pfft! Sad. Truly sad.
She hadn’t oughta done that.
I thought journalists were supposed to REPORT news, not give personal commentary or SLANT what they report for their own purposes. BHWHWHWHWHWH, Right.
The Left once again proves that it says and does whatever it wants… glad to finally see them at least get a token slap on the wrist for a change.
I’m glad this old guy is out there defending his turf. I’d rather have him at my back over any of the anti-Americans any day. He ought to file hate crimes charges against her and give the leftists a taste of their own meds
What was going through her cabeza? A 70 year old veteran victimized 42 times by burglars and she tries to make him out to be the BAD GUY. Thank you, Mr. Walton, for making the world a safer place.
I hope for her follow up piece, she scales his junkyard wall to get to him.
Nobody has mentioned the fact that since the gentleman LIVES at that place - it becomes a “residence” under the law and what would normally be a lower grade burglary now becomes FELONY burglary. Not sure about Texas law, but anywhere else that means the resident is under no obligation to retreat and can use deadly force to prevent the entry, commission, or escape.
Bruce, see this: Castle Law Doctrine - Texas Governor Rick Perry - Press Release - March 27, 2007
And I am going to be totally honest with everyone, I am amazed that LULAC’s hasn’t just jumped ALL OVER this…
At least I wasn’t the only one mad at Ms. Aguilar’s approach!
sure would like to buy the man a cup of jumpstart..hell, a whole pot full and I would be glad to replace the ammo he used sending these assholes to hell.
I suspect we will be seeing a lot more of this in the future..when the law arrests the thieves and the courts release them about as fast as they are arrested we have to do what we have to do to protect life and property. My hat is off to Mr. Walton for being a GOOD citizen and obviously a good shot.
This is JUST the reason I don’t watch Channel 4 / KDFW. It isnt’ about her, just the newsrooms’ “style”. I know she wanted to get a news story on this guy, everyone did. He had his home phone disconnected and wouldn’t answer his business #. Don’t blame him. His neighbors said he was a quiet, shy man who kept to himself, SOOOOO, they stalk him and bombard him in a Parking lot! Then, she has the coconuts to say “Are those tears of what………of remorse?” Give me an ever lovin’ break! Yes, I think she stepped over the line here. This poor Gentleman, who has had TWO really horrible incidents happen to him in three weeks, just wants to be left alone. He has a lot of things to deal with, and from living with someone who I love dearly that has served overseas, his killing of two burglars will be a hard thing for this man to deal with in itself……..I hope he just gets left alone. Poor man…..I hope Rebecca has time to think about her reporting style.
It’s good to see normal Americans win one. Or in Mr. Walton’s case, win two.
If people in more states were able to defend their property like they can in Texas, I venture there’d be way less burglaries and robberies.
Wicked Step Mother said: She hadn’t oughta done that.
Excellent phraseology, WSM!
James, WSM has a way with words, WSM is my MUCH better half…
The best part is we don’t have to hear her over pronounce her name anymore.
Yeah!!!! good times. Fire not suspend, fire not suspend. The tribe has spoken.
Man, that’s no joke… She turns Aguilar into at least 8 syllables…
I seldom watch KDFW. Rebecca Aguilar is one of several reasons. It is also a newsroom almost obsessed with the sensational. No class.
Anyway, I am glad she caught the flak. Her husband, also a former KDFW reporter, also left under a cloud.
After actually seeing that crap, I’m sure she will have a great career working for CNN.
As a fomer Texan now living up north in Oklahoma I’d like to point out that two less dirt bags are walking the street thanks to Mr. Walton. If I ever had the opportunity to meet Mr. Walton I’d shake his hand and buy him a drink of his choice. As for Ms. Rebecca Aguilar, SHAME on YOU!!
Well after reading the story I understand where the reporter was coming from, the first intruder (Raul Laureles.) must have been Hispanic…. she was typically blaming the white guy for a hate crime….
The shooter must also be against illegal immigration which makes him a racist.
I hope the dumb bitch reporter lands a job at telemundo and has to sleep with the LA mayor Viliragosa….
What gets me most is that in Aguilar’s whole report she never ONCE mentioned that it was Mr Walton’s HOME. She onle represented it as a place of business, like he was some shopkeeper waiting in ambush to “get” the burglars.
My Dad always told me that a half-truth is a whole lie. Aguilar’s report was therefore an intentional falsehood.
I posted about the original story, and more power to the man that did what had to be done. God bless you, and please do not allow your spirit to suffer because of your doing what had to be done.
I had not heard about this ambush of an elderly man though.
That woman needs a really good horse whipping, followed by a traditional Tar & Feathering in my not so damned humble opinion…
Aquilar does = racist trash.
But there is an assignment editor and an on-air video editor who approved this and they are hiding behind her. What cowards.