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HOUSTON, TX — A suspected burglar was shot and killed Monday afternoon outside a residence in Houston after the homeowners returned to find him on their property.

Houston police responded to a shooting call around 4:05 p.m. at a home on Bonnie Brae Drive, where they discovered an unresponsive male lying in the driveway. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced him deceased at the scene. His identity has not yet been confirmed by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

According to the Houston Police Department (HPD), a preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had been burglarizing the home while it was unoccupied. When the homeowners arrived, one of them armed themselves and shot the suspect. The homeowner, an adult male, was not injured.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has been notified, and the case will be presented to a grand jury for review.

Legal Considerations in Texas Self-Defense Cases

In Texas, all homicide cases—regardless of circumstances—are referred to a grand jury for review. This does not necessarily indicate charges will be filed, as grand juries in Texas have historically been reluctant to indict individuals who use force against intruders committing a crime. While it remains to be seen whether prosecutors will pursue charges in this case, Texas law strongly favors the right of homeowners to defend themselves against criminal threats.