Harris County crime: Man fatally shot by 14-year-old during alleged break-in attempt
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - The Harris County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that left a man dead in the front yard of a northeast Harris County home. It happened around 6:55 a.m. in the 14400 block of Brownsville Street.
Preliminary reports indicate that a man was knocking on doors, suspected of breaking into residences. There were around three calls in the area about someone who was kicking and pulling on doors in the neighborhood while asking for money. Authorities also noted that the man had gloves and a backpack, which they say is usually worn by those looking to commit robberies.
Ring Doorbell footage captured the moment seconds before the man walks up to a family’s home and allegedly tries to break in.
"I turned on my camera and for sure there was a man looking in the ditch, had very weird behaviors, started walking around the ditch, then started to the neighbor's property," said Araceli Herrera, a neighbor.
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Deputies say a 14-year-old from within one of the residences fired five to six shots from a gun, striking the individual outside. The wounded man was pronounced dead on the scene. The boy's parents were not home at the time and had just left to drop his siblings off at school.
"Right as I looked back up in the window, the boy opens up the door and shoots the guy," said Herrera. "He did one shot and then there was like a one or two second pause and did three more shots."
Herrera said as soon as her neighbor pulled up, the teenager gave his mother the gun.
"Honestly, you do hear gunshots here all the time, but to actually see the entire thing and see the guy drop and all of that. It’s just a big impact," said Herrera.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office is still trying to determine if the alleged intruder was actually trying to break in.
"We’re still trying to confirm if he had opened the door, or unlocked the door, or just pulling back and forth on the doorknob," said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Homeless Outreach says they recognize the man as being homeless in the area. He is described as a Hispanic man in his late 20s or early 30s.
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Law enforcement officials have cordoned off the area as they conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
No charges have been filed, and the 14-year-old is cooperating with authorities. The Harris County Sheriff's Office said the investigation will be presented to a grand jury to determine if the shooting was justified or not.