HOUSTON -- Community activists who disagreed with a grand jury's decision to clear a homeowner of shooting two suspected burglars blamed the racial makeup of the panel for the outcome, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

The controversial ruling on Joe Horn's case has divided the community.

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Survey: Agree With Grand Jury's Decision?

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Pasadena police said Horn, 62, killed burglary suspects Hernando Torres, 38, and Diego Ortiz, 30, by shooting them in the back at about 2 p.m. on Nov. 14 as they ran from Horn's neighbor's house in the 7400 block of Timberline Drive.

Horn's attorney, Tom Lambright, said that his client "acted in self-defense and had no choice."

Quanell X, of the New Black Panther Party, said the grand jury was racist because only one minority was on the panel.

"Where were the African Americans on that jury? Where were the Hispanics on that jury?" he said. "Grand juries are not reflective of the racial makeup of Harris County. There is no way under the sun in Harris County that a black man could have done the same thing that Joe Horn did under the exact same set of circumstances and not be placed in the jail."

Grand jury proceedings are secret, including the makeup of the panel.

Quanell X said he did not condone what Torres and Ortiz did.

"We don't believe you use criminal behavior to stop criminal activity. What Joe Horn did was a criminal act," he said. "This was a wild and out-of-control western-thinking, gun-toting man who saw the opportunity to be judge, jury and executioner and he did what he did. And the Harris County district attorney's office let him get away with it. But we're not going to let him get away."

Quanell X has planned a march and protest to the district attorney's office at 5 p.m. on July 10. He said his group is also investigating civil action against Horn.

"I'm more than angry right now. Our lives have no value. Why -- because of the color of their skin. He shot them in the back. His life was never in danger. They never seen him. They didn't have a weapon. He shot them in the back," said Stephanie Storey, a victim's fiancé.

Supporters of Horn stand behind the grand jury's ruling.

"I don't think he's a redneck or cowboy or any of that. I think he's just a good guy who got put in a real bad situation," said Dennis Cheneault.

The district attorney was asked on Monday what message the grand jury's decision might send.

"I think the message we're trying to send out here today is that the criminal justice system works. That every case will be looked into thoroughly and appropriately, and every case will be judged on its merits," District Attorney Kenneth Magidson said.