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Said District Attorney Heather McMinn shortly after the incident, "Under the law in the state of Texas, deadly force is authorized and justified in order to stop an aggravated sexual assault or sexual assault."
Before the attack, the girl and her brother went out to the feed the chickens. When Flores, a farmhand, picked up the girl and carried her to an out-of-the-way area, her brother ran back to tell his father what was happening. Once the man heard the news, he rushed toward the shack, reportedly guided by his daughter's screams.
When he arrived on the scene, he found the child with Flores, both of their underwear removed. Driven to rage, he began beating Flores until the farmhand lost consciousness. He then called 911.
Despite his anger, the father showed great concern that the man might not survive the beating. He told the 911 dispatcher, who had trouble locating the farm, "Come on! This guy is going to die on me! I don't know what to do."
At one point, he offered to drive Flores to the hospital in his own truck to help save his life.
The father's name is not being released in order to protect the identity of his daughter. Immediately following the incident, Sheriff Micah Harmon stated he would not press charges, deferring the decision to a grand jury.
Harmon described him as "very remorseful," and told CNN, "You have a right to defend your daughter ... the girl's father acted in defense of his third person."
Kudos to her brother who understood what was happening and kudos to the father for believing his son and rescuing his daughter. Kudos to the girl for screaming. They are a very brave family!
Even though she was a victim of sexual violence her father prevented the criminal from doing more harm and she will carry with her the message that her family did everything to protect her and take care of her.
Lots of kids don't have that safety net.