New Caney, Texas



From the Houston Chronicle of January 19, 2005

Theft suspect shot at home site



Owner spends the night, catching 2 men by surprise



Frustrated by repeated break-ins at his home under construction, the owner spent the night at the house and surprised a pair of suspected thieves with his shotgun, wounding one.



Ricky W. Otis, of New Caney, fired at least once, hitting one of the suspects in the head and upper neck, said Montgomery County sheriff's investigators.



The shooting occurred about 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, shortly after Otis called authorities to tell them of a burglary at his home in the Northcrest subdivision, just off U.S. 59.



Investigators said Otis, 47, decided to spend the night at the unfinished house because it had been broken into several times.



Otis slept in an upstairs bedroom Monday night and was awakened early Tuesday by the sound of the downstairs door being forced open.



He called the sheriff's office, then went downstairs to find two men hauling materials from the house into a van, the police report said.



Otis confronted one of the suspects. The suspect then reached into the van, and Otis shot him.



The suspect, Alberto Salazar, 40, of Houston, was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. He was listed in serious condition Wednesday afternoon, said sheriff's Lt. Dan Norris.



Deputies caught the other suspect, who ran away, about four hours later near Firetower and FM 1485, Norris said.



Jose Ponce, 20, of Houston, was arrested and charged with burglary of a building. He was in the Montgomery County Jail on Wednesday, with bail set at $10,000.