HOUSTON -- An off-duty Houston police officer shot and killed one of three people trying to break into his southwest Houston home Wednesday afternoon, officials told KPRC Local 2.

Investigators said officer Terry Hendrickson was asleep in his home at about 1:30 p.m. in the 4600 block of North Ripple Ridge when he heard a knock on the door and glass breaking.

He grabbed his gun and ended up facing three burglary suspects, police said.

"The burglar had something in his hand that is described by the officer as shiny. The officer then fired for the safety of himself and his family, striking the burglar an undetermined number of times," said Capt. Bruce Williams with the Houston Police Department.

The wounded suspect was taken to a local hospital, where he died. Two other suspects were apprehended in a nearby neighborhood. One of them was the sister of the deceased.

Neighbors said the burglary suspects were either bold or clueless because the officer often parks his squad car outside.

"Of all the houses, they picked the cop's house. It's crazy. It's really crazy. I'm still shaking right now," neighbor Shannan Monroe said.

"He was off today. That's what I was told by my neighbor and (they) didn't know he was at home. So, they broke in -- big mistake, stupid mistake," Monroe said.

Neighbors said Hendrickson lives with his wife and children in the house.

They just hope it does not happen again.

"I hope that deters the rest of them from coming out here. We don't need that over here," neighbor Robert Bird said.

Police said that they believe it was a random crime and the officer did not know the burglary suspects.

Hendrickson is a 14-year veteran who works the dayshift at southwest patrol.