HOUSTON – Surveillance videos are giving a timeline of suspicious activity leading up to a deadly home invasion in southwest Houston Sunday morning.
Family members say 35-year-old Noel Espronceda died after being shot during the home invasion.
Houston Police were dispatched to the house in the 5300 block of Castlecreek Lane around 2:48 a.m. Sunday.
Espronceda’s wife told KPRC 2 she, her husband and children had been inside their home sleeping when three suspects entered with guns, told everyone to get on the ground, and shot and killed her husband in front of her and the children.
The other family members were not injured.
Surveillance videos show suspicious activity outside the house just prior to the home invasion.
The timeline of suspicious activity starts with a person walking up the driveway around 1:30 a.m. Espronceda and his family are sound asleep inside their home. The unknown person opens the door on the passenger side of the family’s truck, shuts it, then walks away.
About an hour later, around 2:24 a.m., another person is seen walking up the driveway. They pass the truck. Eventually, the lights to the home turn off.
Around 2:30 a.m., the lights turn back on. A person is seen running away from the house. Other people are seen entering through the side door. Police showed up shortly afterwards.
Espronceda’s stepdaughter was emotional and spoke to KPRC 2. She said her stepfather saved his family and that he did not have enemies.
“Everyone is feeling low because when this happens to someone who did not do anything to anyone, with someone who is a good dad, good son, good friend, good brother, you feel like you have no idea. You feel bad,” said the stepdaughter, who wanted to remain anonymous.
She said Espronceda was a good father and asked other people to stop committing crimes.
“He was one of the best people. That’s why it has hurt so much because he did not have enemies,” the stepdaughter said.
Police are still looking for the suspects, but they said they don’t believe there is a threat to the public.
“We have three male suspects, (and) no other description of them. We don’t have a description of a suspect vehicle yet. It’s early on in the investigation,” HPD Detective David Higgs said.
Authorities are still investigating the case.