HOUSTON – A man opened fire Tuesday at a group of would-be thieves who broke into his neighbor's house in northeast Houston.
Police said four men broke into a home just before 4 a.m. in the 3600 block of Crandon Street, tied up the residents and pistol-whipped two people in the home.
Ruben Garcia, 19, who lives in the home said he was in his room asleep when he heard screaming and shouting before he was forced out of the room. Garcia said the men ordered him to the ground and tied him up.
According to Garcia, the burglars held his mother at gunpoint and pistol-whipped his dad and twin brother.
"I didn't know what was happening until I saw a man holding a gun to my mom's head," he said.
VIDEO: 19-year-old describes terrifying moments of violent home invasion
He said the men used shoe laces to tie up him, his mother, father and twin brother, and tied his 10-year-old sister to a chair.
"They were telling us where do you guys have money, we know you guys have money and stuff like that," twin brother Rene Garcia said.
Investigators said a family friend, who works with the father as a contractor, pulled up to the home and the gunmen started beating him, too.
The man said his uncle, who lives next door, heard the commotion and opened fire on the group of men, killing one and shooting another in the leg.
Two other men ran away. Police said they do not have a descriptions of the men.
Home Invasion @ 3700 Crandon. Suspects pistol whipped victim & stole property. Neighbor shot & killed 1 suspect, shot another #HouNews CC7
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) May 9, 2017
#BREAKING: 4 men broke into house & tied up homeowners. Neighbor heard & opened fire on suspects. 1 dead. 1 shot in leg. 2 loose. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/yToVfcMoVL
— KPRC Cathy Hernandez (@KPRC2Cathy) May 9, 2017
"If he didn't save us, I think most likely one of us, we wouldn't be here today," Rene Garcia said.
He and his father were treated at the hospital for minor injuries.
The family said the men spoke both English and Spanish and sounded like they were from Central America.
The case will go to the Harris County Grand Jury.
Anyone with information about the home invasion is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
