CHANNELVIEW, Texas – Three people were killed Monday and another was injured during a shootout between a Channelview homeowner and burglars, according to authorities.
The shooting was reported at 9:24 a.m. at a home on Amie Michele Lane near Wood Drive.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the two people who live inside the home heard a commotion outside. One of the residents hid while the other grabbed a shotgun, Gonzalez said.
“It appears there was some gunfire exchanged. The one with the shotgun was able to shoot at the three males and they were all pronounced dead at the scene,” Gonzalez said. Investigators believe one of the intruders was armed with a pistol.
It was unclear why the home was targeted, although a relative of the resident who shot the intruders did not believe his cousin knew them.
“The other three guys are not from here, never seen them in my life. Nobody has, so we’re guessing it’s somebody from somebody else that just tried to break into a home and tried to do a home invasion,” said Cesar Lopez, who identified himself as a cousin of the homeowner.
Lopez said his cousin, whom he identified as Yair Gallegos, was shot at least twice —once in the back and once in the leg. The homeowner was taken to the hospital Monday morning in serious condition and he spent Monday in surgery.
“The one good thing, I guess I can say, is that he did have a weapon in order to defend himself,” Lopez said. He said his cousin had recently moved into the trailer home, although the family has lived in the neighborhood for years.
Witnesses described seeing a fourth man approach the home Monday. Investigators believed he ran away.
Gonzalez said the case will be handed over to a Grand Jury for evaluation. It is legal in Texas to defend oneself in one’s home.