HOUSTON – A man was hospitalized after he was shot when a homeowner found him sleeping in his front yard, police said.
According to authorities, the incident happened just before 5 a.m. Wednesday at a home on Barker Bluff Lane near Barker Grove Drive in northwest Harris County.
Police said the homeowner heard a noise, so he went outside and found a man sleeping in the front yard.
"(He) was just in his grass, somewhere," authorities said. "(The homeowner) woke him up, and things went downhill from there."
The homeowner confronted the man and told him to leave, but the stranger charged the homeowner, so the homeowner opened fire on the man, police said.
According to authorities, the man was hit in the abdomen and arm. He was transported to Ben Taub, where he underwent surgery. He is expected to survive.
Melissa Elrod lives two doors down from where the shots were fired. She said her daughter heard the gunshots and woke her up.
“It’s scary," Elrod said. "This is a pretty safe neighborhood, and it’s very concerning to wake up to that.”
Elrod’s daughter and other neighbors say they heard someone banging on their garages and doors early Wednesday morning.
“My husband is like, 'Hey go check the Ring camera,'” said Elrod.
When she checked the footage, she was stunned. She said her cameras caught the man earlier Wednesday before the shooting.
“He was beating on the garage door and then proceeded to hit several of our cars," Elrod said. "(He) then stumbled to the street."
Elrod says her car doors were unlocked, but the man didn’t go inside. Instead, she said he appeared to be lost or disoriented.
Detectives do not believe he lives in this neighborhood but have not been unable to speak with him because he was in surgery for his gunshot wounds.
The homeowner is cooperating with investigators and has not been charged with a crime.