A Galveston County jury has sentenced a 64-year-old man to 40 years in prison for shooting his son and 20 years for shooting his daughter-in-law during a shocking incident at their home in Dickinson, Texas, just before Christmas in 2021.
The trial, which began on Monday and stretched throughout the week, found Chad Anthony Dick guilty of more serious charges than he initially faced.
The Shooting Incident
On December 5, 2021, Dickinson Police and Galveston County Sheriff’s Deputies rushed to a home after receiving a distress call. When officers arrived, they found neighbors holding Chad Dick at gunpoint. Among those who intervened was a retired fire department chief who helped the victims, George Dick and Hilary Dick, until ambulances arrived.
George, 33, suffered a critical gunshot wound to his abdomen, and Hilary, also 33, was shot in the arm. The injury to Hilary’s arm was so severe that it left her unable to use it and caused lasting health problems. The couple’s two young children were inside the house during the terrifying ordeal.
Upgraded Charges
Initially, Chad was charged with two counts of second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. But as the trial unfolded, the charges were upgraded to first-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury to family members.
The jury heard nearly four hours of Chad’s taped statements, where he admitted he’d been drunk and couldn’t clearly remember what happened. He claimed he shot his son in self-defense after being yelled at but failed to explain what kind of threat he had faced.
The Trial and Testimonies
Chief Assistant District Attorney Casey Kirst and Assistant District Attorney Nathan Farmer presented powerful testimonies and evidence during the trial. The prosecution also highlighted Chad’s past conviction for burglary, which made his self-defense claim less credible.
Hilary gave an emotional testimony about how the shooting changed her life forever, while George shared details of his grueling recovery. His injuries were so severe that he lost a kidney, part of his intestines, and part of his colon. He also endured multiple surgeries and infections in the aftermath.
Letters from Jail
During the sentencing phase, the prosecution introduced letters Chad wrote from jail. In these notes, he asked for money but showed no signs of remorse for what he had done. Prosecutor Casey Kirst argued these letters were evidence of Chad’s inability to change and his lack of regret.
The Sentence
The jury handed down a 40-year sentence for shooting George and a 20-year sentence for shooting Hilary. Chad Dick will be eligible for parole after serving half of his 40-year sentence.
This devastating story has left an indelible mark on the victims, their children, and the community of Dickinson.
