IRVING, Texas — A 19-year-old man is in custody after being identified in a Walmart theft and later found with a stolen firearm, a case that could now trigger prison time tied to prior violent charges.
According to police, Leonard Charles Handy Jr. and two unidentified suspects entered the Walmart on Interstate 635 in the 1600 block of Market Place Boulevard around 10:00 p.m. on March 30. The group gathered clothing and food items totaling approximately $157, concealing some items while openly carrying others.
Authorities say the suspects bypassed all points of purchase through closed self-checkout lanes and exited the store without paying. Surveillance video captured the trio running to a 2024 Nissan Altima in the parking lot, with Handy seen entering the driver’s seat. The vehicle’s license plate, registered in part to Handy, was also recorded.
Investigators identified Handy through store surveillance footage, a Dallas County booking photo, and information tied to a separate Irving Police robbery investigation. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
On the night of April 1st, officers located Handy and took him into custody. Police said he was found in possession of a stolen firearm at the time of his arrest.
Handy is now charged with Theft, Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon, and Theft of a Firearm.
Authorities also confirmed that the arrest has triggered a motion to revoke deferred adjudication tied to a prior case from 2025. In that case, Handy faced three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault causing injury, and evading arrest with a vehicle.
Police said those charges stemmed from incidents in April 2025, when Handy allegedly struck his girlfriend with a firearm, dragged her by her hair, and threatened two other women. In a separate incident in March 2025, he fired a gun toward three different apartments.
On January 15, 2026, Handy was handed a golden second chance by the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney's Office. He accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 10 years of deferred probation. With the new arrest, prosecutors have filed a motion to revoke that probation, which would result in those prior charges being adjudicated and lead to significant prison time.
Handy was transferred to the Dallas County Jail on April 3rd. Judge Herschel Woods denied bond, and he remains in custody.
Irving Police say the investigation is ongoing as they work to identify the two additional suspects involved in the Walmart theft.
