The “Instacart” shooting case, which happened on April 15, suddenly went viral over the weekend because of similarity to a string of shooting episodes. All week long there were stories of someone shot or killed over a harmless mistake. This may look the same but it’s different enough that the shooter won’t be charged.
Instacart driver mistake
Unlike Ralph Yarl who was shot for ringing the wrong doorbell while Black, or Kaylin Gillis who was killed for turning around in the wrong driveway, Instacart driver Waldes Thomas wasn’t as innocent as social media makes him out to be. His shooter wasn’t an unhinged maniac who shoots at little girls when their ball rolls in his yard. Or even one who chases down cheerleaders like Payton Washington for getting in the wrong car in a parking lot.
Antonio Caccavale had valid reasons to fear for his life and safety when he lawfully exercised his rights under the Second Amendment. He won’t face charges and Thomas will pay more attention to his work. Thankfully, those are the most severe consequences of what could have turned into total tragedy for any of those involved.
Mr. Caccavale could use a few firearms classes because he has terrible gun control. He missed both of his intended targets, the car’s rear tires. He missed both teens, too. Thankfully, he didn’t clip any of his neighbors.
4/15/23:Teenagers Waldes Thomas+Diamond D'arville, working for Instacart delivering groceries near Miami accidentally landed at wrong address where another homeowner 'feared for his life.' Antonio Caccavale shot up their car. Cops will not charge shooter.https://t.co/ixwq5357lq
— IncarcerNation (@IncarcerNation) April 23, 2023
In his defense, though, he was firing from a less than optimal position. His “assailants” had just run over his foot with their Instacart delivery car. He didn’t know they were harmless because he’d already been harmed when he pulled the trigger.
Two teenagers “accidentally drove up to the wrong address while delivering groceries for Instacart in south Florida.” Things went downhill from there. Waldes Thomas was on the clock and had his girlfriend, Diamond D’arville along for moral support.
They didn’t think they were in the right place and had their intended customer on the phone to talk them in. They were on Southwest 178th Avenue in Southwest Ranches but at the wrong address. As they were about to drive away, “a man waved a flashlight toward them.”
Who are you?
The man with the flashlight demanded to know “Who are you?” They instantly replied “We’re with Instacart,” Ms. D’arville relates to local outlets. At first, they “thought the man could have been the customer they were looking for.”
Then, the couple alleged, “the guy got into his truck and pulled up directly behind them.” That freaked them out, though they never knew he was as scared as they were.
“The guy gets in his truck and reverses, and he pulls up behind us,” Double D relates. Caccavale pulled out his gun. “That’s when I said, ‘We got to go, we got to go. I was scared, I’m not going to lie.” Their car was hit several times by bullets.
Antonio Caccavale shot at 19-year-old Waldes Thomas Jr. and his girlfriend Diamond Darville when they got lost while making an Instacart delivery and drove onto his Florida property.
Instacart is not legally required to pay the workers anything. https://t.co/tqmmA9GqhD
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) April 24, 2023
A block away the Instacart couple pulled over to call police. When they talked to the homeowner, his story was a little different than theirs. This shows there are always three sides to every story, his, theirs and the truth.
Antonio Caccavale “was home with his two children, ages 12 and 13.” He told police “he saw a car driving erratically on the property and that the vehicle ended up running over his foot and causing him to dive out of the way. He then drew his handgun and fired several rounds at the tires of the car as it drove away.” The Instacart drivers may have been delivering groceries and at the wrong address but they also made a crucial admission to police which decided whether anyone would be charged.
They admitted running over his foot, calling it “a boulder.” They also admitted that “Caccavale began grabbing onto the car, so they tried to leave, and that’s when they heard gunshots.” Police heard that and stamped “Case Closed” on the file. “Each party appeared justified in their actions based on the circumstances they perceived.“
