Death Threat Made In Homeowner Shooting Case

PASADENA, Texas -- An anonymous death threat was made against the Harris County District Attorney's Office and police said it was connected to a case of a homeowner accused of killing two burglary suspects at his neighbor's house, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

Officials said the caller threatened to kill Joe Horn, the homeowner, if the district attorney does not charge him with a crime.

Pasadena police said Joe Horn shot Hernando Torres and Diego Ortiz as they ran away from a home they broke into in the 7400 block of Timberline in the Village Grove East subdivision on Nov. 14.

The caller left a voice mail at the district attorney's public integrity division. The recording lasted for several minutes. The caller did not leave his name.

"What you better do -- you better indict Joe Horn and you better find him guilty," the caller said. "If you don't, somebody's going to kill him. They're waiting on him in prison and we're waiting on him on the outside. Let me tell you something -- we're going to kill that (expletive). Bye."

Pasadena Capt. Bud Corbett said the caller left the threatening voice mail on Monday.

The district attorney's office has not yet received Horn's case from Pasadena police to determine if charges will be filed. Police are still reviewing the case.

"Obviously, there's a rather dramatic public debate on it and it is a rather monumental case, and it's always important to do a quality control review. But, it's probably more the pressing issue in a case of this magnitude," Corbett said.

A supporter of Horn's has created the site, joehornformyneighbor.com. The site urges people to leave supportive comments if they believe Horn was justified in shooting the men.

An autopsy revealed that the men were shot in the back. Investigators said a plainclothes officer witnessed the shootings and saw the two men crossing Horn's yard. One ran away while the other angled toward Horn and then ran away, the officer said.

Torres and Ortiz were in the United States illegally, detectives said.

Horn told police he shot the men in self-defense.

Police are expected to turn over evidence from their investigation to the district attorney's office in about a week. A grand jury will decide if Horn will face any criminal charges.

Community activist Quanell X and Torres' fiancée have said they want Horn to face murder charges.

Horn's attorney said his client, who is retired, does not have money needed to support his defense if he is charged. There is a link on joehornformyneighbor.com for supporters to donate money if it is needed.

Horn's attorney took the case free of charge.

Horn has not been living at his Pasadena home because of all the controversy surrounding the case.