HOUSTON – A resident of a northwest Harris County townhome complex fatally shot a man who was breaking into his home, investigators said.
Harris County sheriff's deputies said a resident of Nantucket Square on Place Rebecca Lane near Kuykendahl heard gunshots about 2:15 a.m. Thursday.
There was a three-alarm fire at the townhouse building on Wednesday. The resident's unit sustained smoke and water damage, so there was no running electricity to his home.
"I still have possessions that, in the dark, somebody could come in, break a window and nobody would know it," said the resident, who requested he not be identified.
The resident said he heard a crash of glass a short time after the gunshots.
"I assumed it was one of the burned-out units," he said. "It put me on edge."
The resident, who has a concealed handgun license, grabbed his gun and went downstairs, where he saw a man climbing through a window, investigators said.
"I told him to stop, get out of here," the resident said. "When they came in, I discharged my weapon on him."
The resident immediately called 911.
The intruder was taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where he died. His name has not been released, but deputies said he was 22 years old.
"I value human life and I hated that this person put me in this position. I hate it," the resident said. "If they backed out the window, all I'd have is just a broken window. When they told me he expired, I wept."
The resident said it was dark when the incident occurred, so he didn't get a good look at the man.
"I found out from a detective later that the man was armed," the resident said.
Some of the resident's neighbors said they support what he did.
"He warned the guy multiple times, so I'm pretty sure I would have done the same," Anthony Daigle said.
Photos: 3-alarm fire rips through apartments