HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – An intruder was shot and killed Thursday during a home invasion in northwest Harris County, authorities said.
Deputies said it was a random break-in.
According to investigators, a family of seven, including small children, was asleep around 2 a.m. at a home in the 19200 block of Juergen Road, when a man, wearing only underwear, kicked in the glass front door and walked in the house.
#BREAKING: A family of 7 was asleep when intruder broke in. One resident shot, killed the intruder - who was ONLY WEARING UNDERWEAR. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/yAWUCAphR4
— KPRC Cathy Hernandez (@KPRC2Cathy) May 18, 2017
According to the homeowner's daughter, Naarai Olbera, who lives in Sugar Land and was not in the house at the time, the man walked down the hall and punched her father, Lorenzo Martinez, 53, in the face, then punched her 53-year-old mother. Her brother, 25, heard the scuffle, went to check and was also punched, she said.
Olbera said her brother and the man kept fighting, but her brother's punches weren't affecting the intruder. She said the intruder threw a TV at her brother during the fight.
Olbera said when the man ran toward a room where her sister, brother-in-law and their three sons, ages 5, 8 and 10, were sleeping, her brother-in-law was waiting with a gun.
“My brother was telling him, ‘Hey, he’s coming. Watch out,’” Olbera said. “He shot one in the air to scare him off.”
She said the man didn't stop, and her brother-in-law shot the intruder twice in the chest.
"We are a Christian family. We don't believe in killing anybody,' she said. "But we had to do what we had to do to protect our family and to protect our little kids."
#UPDATE: The homeowners' daughter says the intruder attacked her father, mother and brother before her brother-in-law shot him. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/NRYIckxY5t
— KPRC Cathy Hernandez (@KPRC2Cathy) May 18, 2017
Olbera's mother and father suffered minor injuries in the struggle, deputies said. They were taken to a hospital for treatment.
The family said they believe the man might have been high on drugs.
“I’m glad it turned out this way. I’m glad he didn’t have a gun with him. It could’ve been even worse,” Olbera said.
A tow truck driver transported a wrecked car with blood on the driver's side that was found on Juergen near the home.
It's unclear if the car is connected to the home invasion.
#BREAKING: Deputies say this is a possible home invasion. A tow truck just brought in wrecked car. No word on how it's involved. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/jkEKcE5dTA
— KPRC Cathy Hernandez (@KPRC2Cathy) May 18, 2017
Olbera said her father is a pastor who turned his garage into a church. He often has people over for services.
Deputies have not released the identity of the intruder.
The shooting is under investigation.
