A man was accused of opening firing on a group if neighbors after they confronted him over a car break-in, killing a father. His family said he died protecting his family. Patrick Healy reports Dec. 22, 2021.
A good Samaritan and father of two who joined neighbors to confront a man attempting to break into a car was shot and killed by the would-be thief, police say.
Thirty-eight-year-old Joey Casias was killed after 11 p.m. Tuesday night in Covina.
His accused killer was later arrested after an hourslong standoff Wednesday.
On Wednesday night, neighbors saw a man attempting to break into a car. He ran away, but several of them, including Casisas were able to find him again to confront him. At that point, he reportedly shot and killed Casias.
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Casias' family says he was a beloved husband and father of three who was a UPS driver.
"Joey Casias died trying to help somebody," said his mother, Lydia.
After Casias was killed, police released surveillance video of the accused shooter.
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Another UPS driver later spotted the suspect, who was apparently trying to break into his estranged mother's apartment. The driver called in a tip that he spotted the suspected killer because of his clothes and backpack, based on the photos released by Covina police.
The murder suspect, who police identified as 34-year-old Trevor Howard Thompson, refused to surrender, leading to an hours-long standoff.
"They kept telling him to put his hands up but he wouldn't," said Quinn Jackson, a neighbor who saw the end of the standoff.
Jackson said Thompson kept his hands around his chest, holding a backpack. Police started firing pepper balls at him when he wouldn't put his hands up, Jackson said.
Police say Thompson was armed with a semi-automatic pistol that he fired once during the standoff. They believe it is the gun he used in Casias' murder.
Family and friends mourned Casias' death.
"He's always a positive attitude," said Casias' colleague Mark King.
"Worked hard, stayed out of trouble type of guy -- loved his family … all around good guy … didn't surprise me when I heard it -- wish he never did it."
