Houston, Texas

From Houston’s Click2Houston.com of June 29, 2005

Police: Homeowner Returns Fire, Shoots Suspected Thief

Three Other Suspected Thieves Flee Scene

A northeast Houston homeowner shot a suspected thief who he caught trying to steal his pickup truck Wednesday morning, police told Local 2.

The shooting happened outside the man's home on Richland at Sultan at about 4:15 a.m. shortly after four men arrived in a stolen Cutlass Ciera.

Police said the homeowner heard something going on outside, grabbed his shotgun and went outside to investigate.

Investigators said the homeowner fired the gun after one of the suspected thieves fired a gun at him first.

One of the suspects was struck in the back. He was transported to Ben Taub Hospital and is expected to survive.

The three other suspects fled the scene.

A nearby resident told Local 2 that the area has repeatedly experienced problems with car theft and vandalism.

"They are kicking in the brake lights, stealing the CD players out of our vehicles. The cops ain't done nothing about it so far," neighbor Kenneth Mallard said.

The Harris County District Attorney's Office will decide if the homeowner will face charges in the shooting.