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Joe Horn, 61, spotted two burglars breaking into his next-door neighbor's home in Pasadena, Texas. He called 911 to call police to the scene. While on the phone with emergency dispatch, Horn stated that he had the right to use deadly force to defend property, referencing a law (Texas Penal Code § 9.41., § 9.42., and § 9.43.) which justified the use of deadly force to protect property. He stated that he was going to go outside and confront the burglars and shoot. As the burglars were exiting his neighbor's home, and reportedly approaching Horn's home, Horn exited his home with his shotgun, while the 911 Operator tried to dissuade him from that action. On the 911 tape, he is heard confronting the suspects, saying, "Move, you're dead",[3] immediately followed by the sound of a shotgun blast, followed by two more.[4] Following the shootings Mr. Horn told the 911 operator, "They came in the front yard with me, man, I had no choice!" [5]

Police initially identified the dead men in Horn's yard as 38-year-old Miguel Antonio DeJesus and Diego Ortiz, 30, both of Houston of Afro Latino descent. However, DeJesus was actually an alias of Hernando Riascos Torres, 38.[3] They were carrying a sack with more than $2,000 cash and jewelry taken from the home. Both were convicted criminals from Colombia who had entered the country illegally, and were members of an organized burglary ring in Houston.[1] Police found a Puerto Rican identification card on Ortiz while Torres had three identification cards from Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, and had been previously sent to prison for dealing cocaine and was deported in 1999.[6]

A plain clothes police detective responding to the 911 call had arrived at the scene before the shooting and witnessed the escalation and shootings, while remaining in his car.[3] His report on the incident indicated that the men who were killed "received gunfire from the rear".[1] Police Capt. A.H. Corbett stated the two men ignored Mr. Horn's order to freeze and one of the suspects ran towards Joe Horn before he angled away from him toward the street when he was shot in the back. Pasadena police confirmed that the two men were shot after they ventured into his front yard. The detective did not arrest Horn.

JMU DJ wrote:Why if there was a detective on scene before the shootings occured, did he not do anything before the shooting?

JMU DJ wrote:Why if there was a detective on scene before the shootings occured, did he not do anything before the shooting?

Col Hogan wrote:NO!!!

slycat wrote: He came on scene after the fact. Mr. Horn was on the phone with the cops and said he'd shoot them before they got away.

A plain clothes police detective responding to the 911 call had arrived at the scene before the shooting and witnessed the escalation and shootings, while remaining in his car.

bobbythekidd wrote:Something good did come from it. That neighborhood won't ever be targeted by the crime ring in Houston again.

Col Hogan wrote:NO!!!

JMU DJ wrote:

slycat wrote: He came on scene after the fact. Mr. Horn was on the phone with the cops and said he'd shoot them before they got away.

A plain clothes police detective responding to the 911 call had arrived at the scene before the shooting and witnessed the escalation and shootings, while remaining in his car.

native wrote:

Col Hogan wrote:NO!!!

YES!!!

BlueHen86 wrote:

Col Hogan wrote:NO!!!

Agreed. It's murder. It's never good to trade lives for property. That said - I have no sympathy for the deceased, they asked for trouble and they found it.

native wrote:

BlueHen86 wrote:
Agreed. It's murder. It's never good to trade lives for property. That said - I have no sympathy for the deceased, they asked for trouble and they found it.

This is a very short sighted point of view. By downplaying private property rights, we encourage crime and celebrate criminals over law-abiding citizens. By restoring property rights, we would have a safer society with fewer victims of crime and fewer murders.

Cleets Part 2 wrote:

native wrote:
This is a very short sighted point of view. By downplaying private property rights, we encourage crime and celebrate criminals over law-abiding citizens. By restoring property rights, we would have a safer society with fewer victims of crime and fewer murders.

But if I shot a hedge fund manager after he skimmed millions off the top... would I go to jail..?

bobbythekidd wrote:It happened in Nov 07. Everything I have found makes me think he is still alive.

native wrote:

BlueHen86 wrote:
Agreed. It's murder. It's never good to trade lives for property. That said - I have no sympathy for the deceased, they asked for trouble and they found it.

This is a very short sighted point of view. By downplaying private property rights, we encourage crime and celebrate criminals over law-abiding citizens. By restoring property rights, we would have a safer society with fewer victims of crime and fewer murders.

slycat wrote:

native wrote:
This is a very short sighted point of view. By downplaying private property rights, we encourage crime and celebrate criminals over law-abiding citizens. By restoring property rights, we would have a safer society with fewer victims of crime and fewer murders.

But its more complicated then that. Did he have to shoot to kill? No.

Vigilante laws are not in place.

bobbythekidd wrote:It happened in Nov 07. Everything I have found makes me think he is still alive.

wkuhillhound wrote:Murderer plain and simple. There is no gray in this case. His life was not in jeopardy and they were running away. That what the police is for. Dumbass to the 50,000,000th power. He deserves to rot into the core of hell.

bobbythekidd wrote:

wkuhillhound wrote:Murderer plain and simple. There is no gray in this case. His life was not in jeopardy and they were running away. That what the police is for. Dumbass to the 50,000,000th power. He deserves to rot into the core of hell.

and yet he was cleared of any wrong doing.