Posted on January 27, 2026
Keyshawn Boyd: Defense of Property
By: Shawn Vincent
If it’s not self-defense, it might be murder
In January 0f 2025, 27-year-old Keyshawn Boyd—working as a DoorDash driver in Charlotte, N.C. —left his vehicle running while he made a delivery to a customer’s door. After dropping off the delivery, Boyd saw someone attempting to steal his vehicle. Boyd drew his pistol and fired seven times, killing the perpetrator, an unarmed 15-year-old named Matthias Crockett.
In a 9-1-1 call, a woman is heard saying, “I just saw my DoorDasher shoot somebody. I saw him drop off the food and then walk back towards the car … it was a red car … walked back towards there, and just pulled out and started shooting.” Police arrested Boyd at the scene of the shooting, and he was later charged with first-degree murder.
A relative of Crockett told Queen City News, “That’s not self-defense … I want to defend my home and my property too, but I’m not going to hurt a child. I’m not going to hurt anyone over a piece of property. You could have just given a warning shot. You could have held him until the police came.” Firing a warning shot and holding perpetrators are risky manuvers—both tactically and legally. But had Boyd used verbal cues, he may have frightened Crockett away. If he had been a good witness and dialed 9-1-1, he may have had his vehicle recovered quickly without taking on the legal risk of using deadly force.
Lessons for Armed Defenders
Don’t use deadly force to protect property (Lesson #26): Using deadly force to protect property, such as a vehicle, is not justified unless there is a direct threat to personal safety. Larry Hyatt, a gun store owner and safety instructor, emphasizes, “Self-protection is to protect ourselves, protect our life. It’s not to protect our car. It’s not to protect our computer. Those are objects.”
The threat must be imminent and serious (Lesson #4): The use of deadly force is justified only when facing an imminent threat of great bodily harm or death. In this case, Boyd claims that Crockett was attempting to steal his car—but Boyd wasn’t in the car, so he didn’t face an imminent threat. Had Boyd been carjacked at gunpoint, it would have been a completely different scenario.
Don’t leave a place of safety to confront a threat (Lesson #14): Self-defense is about getting out of danger, not confronting threats. It’s crucial to avoid engaging with a potential aggressor when safe alternatives exist. If Boyd had stayed a safe distance away, called 9-1-1, and filed an insurance claim for the stolen car, he wouldn’t be facing murder charges.
Understand the legal consequences (Lesson #3): Boyd probably didn’t understand the laws that justify the use of deadly force, and he may have mistakenly believed that he was within his rights to shoot someone who was trying to steal his car. He was wrong. As a consequence, Crockett lost his life, and Boyd will likely spend a significant amount of his life in prison.
Understand less-lethal options (Lesson #19): Criminal defense attorney Don West says that just because you can’t use deadly force to protect property doesn’t mean you can’t try less-lethal force if you understand the risks. Self-defense isn’t always about a gun—less-lethal options, like pepper spray, a taser, or even verbal commands, should be considered first. Had Boyd shouted at the perpetrator to get away from his car, Crockett may have fled the scene to avoid being caught.
Don’t Detain People at Gun Point (Lesson #23): Firearms instructor discourages defenders from holding people at gunpoint. In many instances, the person being detained becomes more desperate, less fearful, and more emboldened the longer they remain in the defender’s crosshairs. We’ve encountered cases where the detainees attacked the defender, took their firearm, and used it against them. There’s less risk, tactically and legally, to call 9-1-1, let the perpetrator flee, and be a good witness.
Don’t Fire Warning Shots (Lesson #24): Crocket’s relative suggested that she would have fired a warning shot if she had been in Boyd’s position. Firing a warning shot can often have unintended consequences, and even if it injures no one, it is still legally considered the use of deadly force.