A dad who beat to death a man he caught raping his five-year-old daughter will not be charged.
The young father, 23, heard the girl screaming and found farm hand Jesus Mora Flores, 47, molesting her with his pants down in a remote shed on the family ranch.
He beat the paedophile unconscious but called 911.
A US grand jury heard the father showed concern when he realised Flores was dying and even offered to drive him to hospital.
He told the 911 operator, who struggled to locate the farm: "Come on. This guy is going to die on me! I don't know what to do."
The local sheriff in Shiner, Texas, refused to press charges after Flores' death in June. Jurors were instead asked to decide on potential charges but they ruled the attack was lawful.
District Attorney Heather McMinn said under Texas law 'deadly force is authorised and justified in order to stop an aggravated assault or sexual assault'.
Forensic evidence supported the claim that Flores raped the child.
Locals said they believed the father, who has not been named to protect the girl, did the right thing.
Friend Mark Harabis said: "I would probably do worse. The family will have to deal with that for the rest of their lives."
Another, Sonny Jaehne, said of Flores: "He got what he deserved, big time."