A man who allegedly shot a Texas realtor dead over merely touching his car is now walking the streets on bond, proving once again that our justice system prioritizes criminals over victims.
At a Glance
- Ashlee Long, a Texas realtor, was fatally shot in Dallas after her friend touched a Mercedes Benz
- The accused killer, Kendrick Finch, was released on a $500,000 bond despite the severity of the crime
- Long’s family has launched justiceforashlee.com to advocate for bail reform in Texas
- Governor Greg Abbott supports constitutional amendments to restrict bail for violent offenders
- The case highlights the growing concern over lenient bail policies that endanger public safety
A Life Taken Over a Car Touch
The details of this case are enough to make any reasonable American’s blood boil. Ashlee Long, a successful realtor and University of Houston graduate, was gunned down in Dallas simply because her friend touched a Mercedes Benz. This wasn’t a carjacking or a significant property crime – it was literally just someone touching a car. And for that, a trigger-happy passenger decided that death was an appropriate response. Long was in Dallas for work and was engaged to be married to someone in Houston, with her entire life ahead of her before it was senselessly cut short.
The accused shooter, Kendrick Finch, of course claims self-defense, arguing that Long’s companion, William Kistler, reached for a gun first. But surveillance video tells a different story, showing Finch shooting Long, who later died in a hospital. After initially fleeing the scene like the coward he is, Finch eventually turned himself in on April 18. And here’s where our broken justice system kicks in – despite being charged with murder, Finch was granted a $500,000 bond and is now walking free among law-abiding citizens.
Family’s Fight for Justice
Long’s devastated family isn’t taking this injustice lying down. They’ve launched a website, justiceforashlee.com, to push Texas lawmakers to reform bail laws that allow violent criminals back on the streets. This isn’t just about one case – it’s about a fundamental flaw in our system that continuously fails to protect innocent Americans while coddling those who commit heinous acts. The family is joining forces with Governor Greg Abbott, who has been advocating for constitutional amendments to restrict bail for those accused of violent crimes.
“Bond reform is something that our family is going to stay on for years. Not only for Ashlee, but for anyone.” – Gillian Kimber
The family’s position is crystal clear and perfectly reasonable: individuals accused of violent crimes like murder should not be walking free while awaiting trial. As Gillian Kimber, a family member, poignantly stated, “I feel like you shouldn’t be able to murder someone and get out on bail. As a family member, to have that possibility of seeing someone like that in public, I don’t think that is right or just.” It’s hard to argue with that logic, unless you’re part of the soft-on-crime crowd that has been destroying our cities for years.
The Broken Bail System
While our Constitution rightfully provides for the presumption of innocence, it doesn’t mandate that dangerous individuals must be released pending trial. Yet across America, leftist prosecutors and judges have turned bail into a revolving door that puts violent offenders back on the streets within hours of arrest. Finch’s release conditions include an ankle monitor, random drug tests, and a prohibition on possessing firearms – paper tigers that do little to protect the public from someone who has already demonstrated a willingness to take a life over the most trivial of provocations.
“The person who shot that bullet is walking the streets. That is the problem we are focused on this week.” – Gillian Kimber
There was a small victory recently when a Dallas County judge denied Finch’s legal team’s request to reduce his bond – apparently $500,000 wasn’t low enough for someone facing murder charges. But the fact remains that Finch is free while Long’s family continues to mourn. This is a pattern we see repeated across the country, where violent criminals are treated with kid gloves while victims and their families are left to shoulder the true burden of these progressive policies. It’s time we restore common sense to our justice system and remember who we’re supposed to be protecting.
