Homeowner Fatally Shoots Robbery Suspect

[Paladin]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/6363586/detail.html

"Homeowner Fatally Shoots Robbery Suspect
Officers Do Not Expect Homeowner To Be Charged

POSTED: 8:12 am CST January 23, 2006
UPDATED: 8:37 am CST January 23, 2006

HOUSTON -- A Katrina evacuee who fatally shot one of three robbery suspects Monday morning after they threw his daughter down the stairs will most likely not be charged, police told KPRC Local 2.

Officers with the Houston Police Department said the suspects surprised the homeowner at about 1 a.m. at his home off West Tidwell Road near Antoine Drive.

The homeowner told investigators that the trio knocked on his door and demanded that he hand over money he received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"They were after his FEMA money. They knew he got paid today so that is why they came after his money," HPD spokesman I.S. Flores Jr. said.

The homeowner told police that the armed men forced their way into the apartment despite him holding his 1-year-old daughter.

"A suspect grabbed the 1-year-old baby and threw her down a flight of steps. That is when the owner was able to wrestle the gun away from the suspect and fire it at the suspect, killing him dead here at the scene," Flores said.

The two remaining suspects fled the scene.

Emergency responders said the homeowner's daughter was not injured.

Authorities said the homeowner knew the men knocking at his door, which is why he did not hesitate opening the door.

"Two of the suspects … the owner knows them. The third suspect he'd seen around. But, he knew them from New Orleans as well," Flores said.

Police said they are searching for the surviving suspects, and that the homeowner would most likely not be charged in the killing since he was defending his family and home."

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That really is defensive gun use the hard way. Taking it from armed robbers. Score one for the good guys. Fortunately the homeowner and child weren't hurt.

[Paladin]

More info:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=3836725

"Police say three men forced their way into the unit at the apartment complex on West Tidwell near West Sun Forest. The armed men demanded money.

The victim first tried to stop the men with a steak knife. The suspects then grabbed the homeowner's 12-month-old daughter and threw her down the stairs. Fortunately, the toddler is OK.

One suspect pulled a gun, but the victim was able to get it away from him and shot him. Then the suspect pulled a second gun. The homeowner got it away from him and shot him again, this time killing him. Police say the other two men fled the scene.

"The two suspects are known to the complainant," said Officer Philip Yochum with the Houston Police Department. "The dead man is not known to the complainant. They left the scene before police arrived."

Investigators say the victim knew the two suspects who got away and that both the victim and suspects are Katrina evacuees. Police aren't sure if the dead suspect is an evacuee as well. "