Texas Homeowner kills TWO intruders burgularizing NEIGHBORS HOUSE..!

[thegodfather]

This guy is awesome. I cannot believe there is such a debate and people are outside of his house protesting against him. Two people were burgularizing his neighbors house and he confronted them with a gun. He was forced to shoot both of them, one of which had a crowbar in his hand. Now you have people on CBS trying to turn this into a friggin race issue because Mr.Horn was white and the two CRIMINALS were black. If Mr.Horn had been black you would not have seen these jackass's on CBS speaking out against him trying to make this a race issue, its race baiting, and its pathetic. Additionally, these guys were criminals, and he had every right to shoot them, regardless of whether it was his house or his neighbors. If every law abiding, upstanding citizen, had the right to protect his home with force, I guarantee more would be criminals would think twice before pulling shit like this. THAT is what prevents crime, not harsh prison sentences.





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Man Kills Suspects While On Phone With 911
Two Men Shot In Texas By Joe Horn Who Saw Suspects Leaving Neighbor's House
Comments 578
PASADENA, Tex., Nov. 17, 2007

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1 | 2 | 3Attorney Tom Lambright reads a statament from his friend of four decades. (KHOU)





Man Shoots Intruders
Audio tape of a 911 call captures a man in the act of fatally shooting two intruders at his neighbor's home. A Houston grand jury is deciding his fate. Russ Mitchell reports. | Share

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(CBS) The 911 call came from a Pasadena, Tex., resident, who alerted police to two burglary suspects on a neighbor's property. Before he hung up, two men were dead by his hand.

Joe Horn, 61, told the dispatcher what he intended to do: Walk out his front door with a shotgun.

"I've got a shotgun," Horn said, according to a tape of the 911 call. "Do you want me to stop them?"

"Nope, don't do that - ain't no property worth shooting somebody over, OK?" the dispatcher responded.

"Hurry up man, catch these guys, will you? 'Cause I'm ain't gonna let 'em go, I'm gonna be honest with you, I'm not gonna let 'em go. I'm not gonna let 'em get away with this ----."

Shortly after, Horn said he sees one suspect was standing in front of his house, looking at it from the street.

"I don’t know if they’re armed or not. I know they got a crowbar 'cause that's what they broke the windows with. ... Man, this is scary, I can't believe this is happening in this neighborhood."

He gets more agitated. The dispatcher asks if he can see the suspects but they had retreated into the target's house, out of view: "I can go out the front [to look], but if I go out the front I'm bringing my shotgun with me, I swear to God. I am not gonna let 'em get away with this, I can't take a chance on getting killed over this, OK? I'm gonna shoot, I'm gonna shoot."

"Stay inside the house and don’t go out there, OK?" the dispatcher said. "I know you're pissed off, I know what you're feeling, but it's not worth shooting somebody over this, OK?"

"I don’t want to," Horn said, "but I mean if I go out there, you know, to see what the hell is going on, what choice am I gonna have?

"No, I don’t want you to go out there, I just asked if you could see anything out there."

The dispatcher asks if a vehicle could be seen; Horn said no. The dispatcher again says Horn should stay inside the house.

Almost five minutes into the call, police had not arrived.

"I can’t see if [the suspects are] getting away or not," Horn said.

Horn told the dispatcher that he doesn’t know the neighbors well, unlike those living on the other side of his home. "I can assure you if it had been their house, I would have already done something, because I know them very well," he said.
Dispatcher: "I want you to listen to me carefully, OK?"

Horn: "Yes?"

Dispatcher: "I got ultras coming out there. I don't want you to go outside that house. And I don't want you to have that gun in your hand when those officers are poking around out there."

Horn: "I understand that, OK, but I have a right to protect myself too, sir, and you understand that. And the laws have been changed in this country since September the First and you know it and I know it."

Dispatcher: "I understand."

Horn: "I have a right to protect myself ..."

Dispatcher: "I'm ..."

Horn: "And a shotgun is a legal weapon, it's not an illegal weapon."

Dispatcher: "No, it's not, I'm not saying that, I'm just not wanting you to ..."

Horn: "OK, he's coming out the window right now, I gotta go, buddy. I'm sorry, but he's coming out the window. "

Dispatcher: "No, don't, don't go out the door, Mister Horn. Mister Horn..."

Horn: "They just stole something, I'm going out to look for 'em, I'm sorry, I ain't letting them get away with this ----. They stole something, they got a bag of stuff. I'm doing it!"

Dispatcher: "Mister, do not go outside the house."

Horn: "I'm sorry, this ain't right, buddy."

Dispatcher: "You gonna get yourself shot if you go outside that house with a gun, I don't care what you think."

Horn: "You wanna make a bet?"

Dispatcher: "Stay in the house."

Horn: "There, one of them's getting away!

Dispatcher: "That's alright, property's not something worth killing someone over. OK? Don't go out the house, don't be shooting nobody. I know you're pissed and you're frustrated but don't do it."

Horn: "They got a bag of loot."

Dispatcher: "OK. How big is the bag?" He then talks off, relaying the information.

Dispatcher: "Which way are they going?"

Horn: "I can't ... I'm going outside. I'll find out."

Dispatcher: "I don't want you going outside, Mister..."

Horn: "Well, here it goes buddy, you hear the shotgun clicking and I'm going."

Dispatcher: "Don't go outside."
On the tape of the 911 call, the shotgun can be heard being cocked and Horn can be heard going outside and confronting someone.

"Boom! You're dead!" he shouts. A loud bang is heard, then a shotgun being cocked and fired again, and then again.

Then Horn is back on the phone:
"Get the law over here quick. I've now, get, one of them's in the front yard over there, he's down, he almost run down the street. I had no choice. They came in the front yard with me, man, I had no choice! ... Get somebody over here quick, man."

Dispatcher: "Mister Horn, are you out there right now?"

Horn: "No, I am inside the house, I went back in the house. Man, they come right in my yard, I didn't know what the --- they was gonna do, I shot 'em, OK?"

Dispatcher: "Did you shoot somebody?

Horn: "Yes, I did, the cops are here right now."

Dispatcher: "Where are you right now?"

Horn: "I'm inside the house. ..."

Dispatcher: "Mister Horn, put that gun down before you shoot an officer of mine. I've got several officers out there without uniforms on."

Horn: "I am in the front yard right now. I am ..."

Dispatcher: "Put that gun down! There's officers out there without uniforms on. Do not shoot anybody else, do you understand me? I've got police out there..."

Horn: "I understand, I understand. I am out in the front yard waving my hand right now."

Dispatcher: "You don't have a gun with you, do you?

Horn: "No, no, no."

Dispatcher: "You see a uniformed officer? Now lay down on the ground and don't do nothing else."

Yelling is heard.

Dispatcher: "Lay down on the ground, Mister Horn. Do what the officers tell you to do right now."
Two days later, Horn released a statement through an attorney.

“The events of that day will weigh heavily on me for the rest of my life," it said. "My thoughts go out to the loved ones of the deceased.”

The identities of the men killed were released Friday.

They are Miguel Antonio Dejesus, 38, and Diego Ortiz, 30. Official records show that each of them had a prior arrest in Harris County for drug offenses.

The men were reportedly shot at a distance of less than 15 feet.

A woman who lives nearby who asked not to be identified told CBS News affiliate KHOU correspondent Rucks Russell that she always saw Horn as a grandfather figure. "He is the guardian of the neighborhood," she said. "He takes care of all our kids. If we ever need anything, we call him.”

But according to Tom Lambright, Horn’s attorney and a friend for more than four decades, he’s the one in need now. “He just needs everyone to know he’s not a villain, he’s not a bad guy,” Lambright said.

He went on to say that Horn voluntarily gave an extensive video statement to police immediately following the shooting.

Horn was not taken into custody after the shooting. A Harris County grand jury will decide if charges are to be filed.

Lambright says Horn acted in complete and total self defense and has nothing to hide.

Local opinion has been passionate on both sides of the shooting.

One letter to the Houston Chronicle said, "He didn't shoot them in the legs, to make sure they did not run away, or hold them at gunpoint until police arrived. No, he was judge, jury and executioner."

Another letter writer praised Horn, saying, "Where does the line form to pin a medal on Joe Horn? I want to get in line." Another wrote, "Let's get rid of the police force and just hire Joe Horn!"

Support for Horn was also running about 2-1 in an online survey of readers on the KHOU Web site.

The incident may prove a test for a new law recently passed in Texas which expands the right of citizens to use deadly force.

Under Texas law, people may use deadly force to protect their own property or to stop arson, burglary, robbery, theft or criminal mischief at night.

But the legislator who authored the "castle doctrine" bill told the Chronicle it was never intended to apply to a neighbor's property, to prompt a "'Law West of the Pecos' mentality or action," said Republican Sen. Jeff Wentworth. "You're supposed to be able to defend your own home, your own family, in your house, your place of business or your motor vehicle."

[gixxerboy1]

Godfather this time i disagree with you on. They was not in danger but went outside to put himself in danger. Have you heard the 911 tape? The dispatcher told him multiple times not to go outside and that there was a plain clothes officer on the scene. Horner argued and said he was getting his gone and was aloud to kill them by law. I think there is a difference between protecting yourself and neighbors and vigilantism

[qualityclrk1]

i agree with godfather.......whose to say he wasn't worried about the well being of his neighbors. He went next door with his gun, he's an older man, these younger CRIMINALS had a crowbar and w/e else- he was then protecting himself.

[Z-Ro]

i agree with godfather.......whose to say he wasn't worried about the well being of his neighbors. He went next door with his gun, he's an older man, these younger CRIMINALS had a crowbar and w/e else- he was then protecting himself.

I have heard a lot about this issue and it happened weeks ago. The issue is, if you heard the tapes, that the 911 operator--an off-duty officer, repeatedly told Mr. Horn to NOT go outside and shoot them. On the tapes he clearly wanted to shoot these guys by the tone of his voice. Also, he was watching his neighbors home because they were on vacation or not at home. His neighbors were in no jeporady physically, although their material items were. ALSO, they were dispatching officers NOT in uniforms and they were afraid he may have shot the ununiformed officers.

In my opinion, its not a race issue. When I heard the tapes I do feel though that the guy was overly zealous about shooting someone. I think its wrong and it would deter criminals from robbing peoples property or messing with people. It was just a tough situation because again, it seemed from the get-go that he was intent on going out and shooting/killing someone. Thats where I am on the fence, I am all for responsible people using weapons, burglarly is not right, but I am not sure that I would kill someone for a material item. If my neighbors life was in danger and they were being raped, assaulted, yes it may be a time to shoot to kill but I do not understand why did he not aim for their legs, shoulder, etc...? I know he had a shotgun...its just a very tough situation with the laws today.

I do say this again, I do not believe its a race issue. I think he would have shot a white, brown, black, yellow, orange, blue person. I wish him the best of luck in his defense if his intentions were good which they seemed to be.

[Johny-too-small]

If two guys bust into my home, they've just commited suicide.

[Red Ketchup]

If two guys bust into my home, they've just commited suicide.

Yeah same here...

But if they bust in your neighbours house, are you going to go out of your way to shoot them?

Red

[305GUY]

Dispatcher: "You gonna get yourself shot if you go outside that house with a gun, I don't care what you think."

Horn: "You wanna make a bet?"

I thought this was hilarious!


but imo he should have shot those guys in the legs. They would have gone down and stayed down til cops arrived. This guy went out there to kill them but i still think he shouldnt be charged for anything. I completely understand the protesting outside his home and i think he deswrves that. But he should not be charged with any crime IMO

[MuscleScience]

If I was on vacation and someone was robbing my house of MY hard earned possessions I would want my neighbor to defend my property. Were I am from its not uncommon to get shot if your trespassing, of course I am from a rural farming community and it goes without saying if you mess with a mans property that you deserve what you get. However I dont think he should have killed those guys. Maybe just let out a warning shot to scare them away.

[thegodfather]

I thought this was hilarious!


but imo he should have shot those guys in the legs. They would have gone down and stayed down til cops arrived. This guy went out there to kill them but i still think he shouldnt be charged for anything. I completely understand the protesting outside his home and i think he deswrves that. But he should not be charged with any crime IMO

Had the criminals he shot been white, would they still be outside his house protesting? Probably not...

[Dizz28]

I think this guy just wanted the change to blast him a couple bad guys. Was it necessary? probably not. Should he get charged with anything? No.

Being this happened in Texas, I don't think any legal action will be filed. If this happened in any other state I would think he would be lookin at some charges. What would be true irony would be if the families of those two file a cival "wrongful death" suit. I wouldn't put it past them and I wouldn't be suprised if he lost the suit and was ordered to pay a couple million to the families.

[MuscleScience]

I think this guy just wanted the change to blast him a couple bad guys. Was it necessary? probably not. Should he get charged with anything? No.

Being this happened in Texas, I don't think any legal action will be filed. If this happened in any other state I would think he would be lookin at some charges. What would be true irony would be if the families of those two file a cival "wrongful death" suit. I wouldn't put it past them and I wouldn't be suprised if he lost the suit and was ordered to pay a couple million to the families.

I think they were illegal immigrants too, I am not sure if their family could sue.

[305GUY]

Had the criminals he shot been white, would they still be outside his house protesting? Probably not...

not probably, they DEFINITELY wouldnt be protesting.

[godkilla]

i caught a burglar breaking into my next door neighbours a few years back, i confronted him and he turned his back and tried to run. i grabbed the back of his jacket and jumped his back and choked em out quietly on the lawn with a rnk. its was so quiet that 3 neighbours arriving home didnt even know what was going on until i told em. soon as they realized the guy layin unconsious was a burglar they began to boot **** him as he awoke. i kinda thought we where gonna get in trouble from the police who i had alrdy called, but when they showed up they also beat him up and where pleased with the fact that i had caught him for them, because it turns out they where down the block looking for him for somethin unrelated. so i guess you can prolly guess my stance on this issue and i would love to go on a rant about it, but i wont

[gixxerboy1]

i agree with godfather.......whose to say he wasn't worried about the well being of his neighbors. He went next door with his gun, he's an older man, these younger CRIMINALS had a crowbar and w/e else- he was then protecting himself.

Yes, but he knew the neighbors weren't home. He chose to go outside and put himself in possible danger. Also he was informed multiple tiems that cops were on the scene. hell he argued with the 911 office about the legality of him killing them. This guy had all intentions of shooting these guys. He didn't care. To me he is dangerous and should be punished.

[godkilla]

Yes, but he knew the neighbors weren't home. He chose to go outside and put himself in possible danger. Also he was informed multiple tiems that cops were on the scene. hell he argued with the 911 office about the legality of him killing them. This guy had all intentions of shooting these guys. He didn't care. To me he is dangerous and should be punished.

police where not on scene from what i read. he thought they where gona get away and went out to stop them. now i assume since he shot one of the men on his property that the man came at him. the world need more guys like this instead of scared losers who want to use the well being of some criminal who broke into a FAMILY home as an excuse for there cowardice. now to turn this around and say he is dangerous and should be punished is ridiculous. we are all dangerous and if you ask me he is dangerous to the right people.

as for all the people talking about race, i dont really care what race any of them are. you break into a home where people and there family live, you deserve to die. the fact that the neighbours where not home doesnt make a diff in my mind either.

[gixxerboy1]

police where not on scene from what i read. he thought they where gona get away and went out to stop them. now i assume since he shot one of the men on his property that the man came at him. the world need more guys like this instead of scared losers who want to use the well being of some criminal who broke into a FAMILY home as an excuse for there cowardice. now to turn this around and say he is dangerous and should be punished is ridiculous. we are all dangerous and if you ask me he is dangerous to the right people.

as for all the people talking about race, i dont really care what race any of them are. you break into a home where people and there family live, you deserve to die. the fact that the neighbours where not home doesnt make a diff in my mind either.

I saw in interview with the police. The was 1 plain clothes office there. The officer said he was in front of the house when he heard the gun shots. He didnt see what happened but was there to hear it. and other officers arrived with in seconds.

[godkilla]

I saw in interview with the police. The was 1 plain clothes office there. The officer said he was in front of the house when he heard the gun shots. He didnt see what happened but was there to hear it. and other officers arrived with in seconds.

ok, so some plain clothes officer was right there and this old man did his job for him and then more cops arrived immediately afterwards. this doesnt change a thing in my mind. the cops are prolly secretly thanking this man. the point is these losers broke into some family's home and this man went the extra mile to ensure justice was served.

i just cant understand how there is people out there defending losers like these two. they put themselves in this situation and they paid the ultimate price. its nobodies fault but there own.

[IamtheChitt]

I think he did the right thing. If more people would adopt his ways, there would be much less crime in this country. I believe in the right to bear arms and to protect your own, or someone else's property. What if someone's daughter or wife was in the house? Would it be a different story?

Also, I would not have shot them in the legs. I would shoot to kill. If I was the criminal who got shot in the legs, in three months after I got out on parole, I would go back to the man who shot me and get my revenge. Or at least, pay someone else to do it. (Kind of ridiculous, but just a small point.) I would give Joe Horn a medal.

[gixxerboy1]

I think he did the right thing. If more people would adopt his ways, there would be much less crime in this country. I believe in the right to bear arms and to protect your own, or someone else's property. What if someone's daughter or wife was in the house? Would it be a different story?

Also, I would not have shot them in the legs. I would shoot to kill. If I was the criminal who got shot in the legs, in three months after I got out on parole, I would go back to the man who shot me and get my revenge. Or at least, pay someone else to do it. (Kind of ridiculous, but just a small point.) I would give Joe Horn a medal.

He knew they weren't. You can do what if's all day long. What if he missed and shot some kid across the street. What if shot on of th cops ?What if it was a young kid stealing a tv. does he deserve to die for that?

I'm not defending the robbers at all. I dont think they deserve to die for it but they shouldn't have been there. So its ok to kill them for robbing the house. What if they were breaking into your car stealing cd's? I don't trust the avg smuck making decisions on who lives and dies.

[godkilla]

do i think burglary carries a penalty of death? no. but do i think that someone breaking into a family home deserves to die? yes. beats the alternative of letting them go free within months and then havin them back at it again. and what if next time a family is in the home? they way i see it. everyone of these losers that die mean my family and property are that much more safe.

[IamtheChitt]

He knew they weren't. You can do what if's all day long. What if he missed and shot some kid across the street. What if shot on of th cops ?What if it was a young kid stealing a tv. does he deserve to die for that?

I'm not defending the robbers at all. I dont think they deserve to die for it but they shouldn't have been there. So its ok to kill them for robbing the house. What if they were breaking into your car stealing cd's? I don't trust the avg smuck making decisions on who lives and dies.

Thats a good point, but the fact is they would still be alive today, if they weren't breaking the law. I'm not saying that I would want someone to get away with killing someone for stealing their pack of gum, but I do believe that these criminals would have gotten away if not for this man's actions. Not only was he protecting his neighborhood, but he was protecting himself. Yes, he could have stayed inside his house, and let them run away, but he stood up for his community and took action, a thing that too many of us are afraid to do these days because of fear and ridiculous legal consequences.

Also, i'm a southern boy from a small town. If i ever caught someone breaking into my car, I would have taken the same actions and my neighbors would have applauded me for it. Of course, IF it was some kid, I would have slightly more remorse for my actions. But for arguments sake, we aren't doing what ifs, are we?

[IamtheChitt]

Dec. 16, 2007, 9:33AM
SHOTS STILL ECHOING
The man behind the gun
He's been praised as a hero and condemned as a vigilante. But Joe Horn, cast by friends as a quiet Everyman, says fame has caused `untold grief'

By CINDY HORSWELL and RUTH RENDON
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
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Pasadena protests collide
Q&A with Joe Horn
At heart of Horn debate: empowerment

To his grandchildren, the 61-year-old Pasadena homeowner is simply "Papa Joe."

To longtime friends, Joe Horn is an "average Joe" who leads a rather quiet, dull life as a retired communications computer manager on the outskirts of Houston.

But since being catapulted into a national debate for fatally shooting two men he says were burglarizing the house next door, Horn is called everything from a "hero" to a "murdering vigilante."

All the furor forced him into seclusion as news media nationwide clamored for interviews and one anonymous caller even made a death threat against him. But now for the first time, he has decided to break his silence and answer by e-mail some questions about his life posed by the Houston Chronicle.

"(The shooting) has been devastating on my family," Horn wrote. "Words cannot describe how bad this has been."

Horn, who had been letting his attorney and personal friend of four decades speak for him, added, "It has caused untold grief on all of us. I feel for my daughter and grandchildren."

Horn lives in a two-story brick home with a pool in the Village Grove East su**ivision of $200,000-plus homes. The neighborhood is so peaceful and quiet that he was first alerted to the Nov. 14 afternoon burglary by the sound of glass breaking.

"He was on his computer fixing a music program when he heard the shattering," Horn's attorney, Charles Lambright, said in a telephone interview.

Neighborhood residents now are trying to replace the horrifying memory of two bodies — sprayed with shotgun pellets sprawled in two front yards — with a much merrier one of twinkling lights and holiday decor. One body was found in the yard of a Pasadena police officer.

"It was really creepy to see," recalled Debra Wright, who lives a few houses down from Horn.

Diego Ortiz, 30, and Hernando Riascos Torres, 38, collapsed and died not far from Horn's house. Both were unemployed illegal immigrants from Colombia with Houston addresses. Torres was sent to prison for dealing cocaine and was deported in 1999.

Pasadena Capt. A.H. "Bud" Corbett said both men were shot in the back. After ignoring pleas from a 911 dispatcher to stay in his house, Horn went outside to see what was happening and found himself within 7 feet of and face-to-face with the suspects, authorities said.

Horn shouldered his 12-gauge shotgun, which he had retrieved from his pickup, and yelled, "Move and you're dead!"

Two moving targets
Details released by Pasadena police show that Torres ran toward Horn and then angled slightly toward the curb, while Ortiz had turned away from Horn and was fleeing in the opposite direction when both were shot.

A plainclothes officer in an unmarked car responding to the burglary arrived there just in time to witness the shootings.

Horn needed precision shooting to hit two moving targets going in different directions in a matter of seconds.

Years ago, he was an "avid hunter," his second wife, Carole Horn, 61, said in a telephone interview. But he now focuses on his grandchildren, fishing and some occasional target practice, friends and family said.

Lambright, who himself hunts with a pistol and is a competitive target shooter, agrees Horn is "no bwana" (Swahili for "master") hunter.

"I'm more of a gun nut with a concealed weapon permit," Lambright said. Horn has no such permit. Nor does he have any military experience or gun club membership.

The last time Horn shot an animal was 30 years ago when he bagged a "huge bull elk" in Idaho.

"After this hunt, I lost all my desire to kill any more animals," Horn said in his written comments. "I went hunting a few more times but I was no longer interested."

Carole Horn was married to him for 3 1/2 years, has known him for more than 20 years and admits she still loves him. "He's a little bit dominating. We're just two different people," she said of the years they lived together in Colorado.

After taking early retirement in 1998, Horn moved to Kentucky to live with his only daughter from his first marriage. His daughter, Rhonda, and her husband, Bryan Litton, wanted Horn to help raise their two young girls.

Tragedy, however, soon struck the young family when Bryan Litton unexpectedly died in 1998 from a rare heart condition at the age of 32. Afterward, Horn, his daughter and grandchildren returned to Houston.

"Horn went back to work so that his daughter could stay home with the babies," Lambright said. "About six years ago, she met her current husband (Lee Holbrook). They bought the house in Pasadena and again asked Joe to live with them."

That's when Horn retired once again.

Quanell X not a fan
A native Houstonian and an only child, Horn graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1964. His stepfather earned a living as a bricklayer.

He went to work as a 7-Eleven store clerk immediately after high school.

After two years, Horn wrote, he left that job for his first jaunt in the communications industry. He said he needed more money to better support his first wife and young daughter.

He then worked his way up in the field, receiving top test scores, and eventually became a computer program manager for AT&T before retiring in 2003.

What he never expected was that his quiet, private life would end the day he intervened in the burglary of the house next door.

The doting grandfather now needs a press agent to handle the nonstop requests for appearances and interviews with media outlets across the country, his friends say.

New Black Panther leader Quanell X, who has led two protests in front of Horn's home, believes Horn should be indicted for murder but says he would not be shocked if he isn't. "It won't be the first time a white person shot a black person and he is not indicted," he said in a telephone interview.

He pointed to an incident last month in which a 58-year-old black man, Wadie Spikes of Houston, was immediately jailed for fatally shooting a dog but later cleared after a witness said he was protecting his family and acting in self-defense.

Quanell X complained Horn was never taken into custody after claiming self-defense for killing two people.

Up to a grand jury
Ultimately, all sides agree that whether Horn is indicted will probably come down to whether a grand jury believes beyond a reasonable doubt that he acted in self-defense.

Joe Owmby, who heads the Harris County district attorney's police integrity division, explained that Texas law allows "wide latitude for individuals to protect themselves, but not as much if they're not threatened."

Lambright insists Horn feared for his life. After the 911 dispatcher asked for more information on the burglars, Horn left his house to see what was happening and to possibly get a glimpse of the burglars' car or license plate, Lambright said.

"He went outside and all of a sudden there they were," Lambright said. "And Horn tells them 'move and you're dead.' The suspects have a shotgun aimed at them and their response was to run at Joe and he panicked."

On the advice of his attorney, Horn declined to respond to questions posed by the Chronicle about the shooting.

But Owmby, who will not work on Horn's case, noted that the issue is complicated because the shooter was urged to stay in a safe place and wait for help.

Quanell X stressed that Horn on the 911 tape states his clear intention to kill.

Whether Horn is viewed as a hero or a vigilante, Lambright sees him as an average Joe from any small town in America.

"He's quite a boring guy, really," Lambright said. "He's gotten fat, lazy and old."

[Fat Guy]

This guy is awesome. I cannot believe there is such a debate and people are outside of his house protesting against him. Two people were burgularizing his neighbors house and he confronted them with a gun. He was forced to shoot both of them, one of which had a crowbar in his hand."

He was not forced to anything especially to go outside with a shotgun and confront a couple of burglars….

This is a case of vigilantism, which is as illegal as burglary, plain and simple. This is why we have law enforcement. To me this whole thing seems ignorant...

Maybe the whole thing would be different if the old guy had a Taser… I’m stirring the pot on this one!

[kfrost06]

Yeah same here...

But if they bust in your neighbours house, are you going to go out of your way to shoot them?

Red

My thoughts exactly.

[eliteforce]

A better questions is would he had shot them if they were white, you never know but I doubt it. If they had been 2 white kids he probably would have just confronted them with the gun and given them a chance to surrender..and if they would have run i'll bet he would have just chased after them with the gun.. you can clearly hear in the tape that he just went out with gunz blazing; he didn't even try to shoot them in the legs, he wanted to make sure they were dead, shooting multiple slugs.

Pasadena is a white area close to downtown Houston and it is surrounded by black and minority areas (it's not a suberb), there are many burglaries there and the burglers are almost always black..there is high racial tension there.

Had the criminals he shot been white, would they still be outside his house protesting? Probably not...

[Lexed]

somehow al sharpton is gonna get involved on this

[wantmoremass]

the article said they were both shot in the back. definitely not self defense. by the transcript of the 911 call, he was itching to shoot somebody. what does someone have to do to justify killing them? to me, it would be threatening my life... not really the case here.

[thegodfather]

A better questions is would he had shot them if they were white, you never know but I doubt it. If they had been 2 white kids he probably would have just confronted them with the gun and given them a chance to surrender..and if they would have run i'll bet he would have just chased after them with the gun.. you can clearly hear in the tape that he just went out with gunz blazing; he didn't even try to shoot them in the legs, he wanted to make sure they were dead, shooting multiple slugs.

Pasadena is a white area close to downtown Houston and it is surrounded by black and minority areas (it's not a suberb), there are many burglaries there and the burglers are almost always black..there is high racial tension there.

You are making a grossly irresponsible ASSUMPTION about the homeowners personal feelings and beliefs regarding people of other ethnic backgrounds. Can you please quote some statements made by the homeowner which would so much as even hint to him having any racial prejudices? I didnt think so. How can you speculate about things like this? They were two PEOPLE who burglarized a home, and this man intervened, PERIOD. Why does it have to be turned into a racial issue, especially when the homeowner never so much as made any racial remarks at all. You have no right to do so, regardless of any "alledged" racial tensions in the area. You cannot show these racial tensions on a piece of paper, therefore any such speculation is a nonpoint in my mind.

Let me pose a serious question to everyone who has contribued to this thread.

What is a better deterrent to crime?

1) Knowing that each time you decide to commit an illegal act, the innocent citizen that you plan to accost may just have a weapon and be willing to take your life.

or

2) Knowing that you can get away with accosting just about anyone with very minimal risk since most of the public is disarmed, and if by some CHANCE you are caught, then you'll face some time having your freedom deprived, but you'll still be getting 3 meals a day and a place to sleep. But, you have to actually get CAUGHT first.
The odds are that if number 2 is the situation, you're going to be much more likely to take the chance since you know your not risking your life. When did we become a nation where we LET things happen, and then try to figure out who did it, or punish the people later? I mean the logic is rather simple, you would think at least.

[Dizz28]

I choose #1...

[Tock]

From what I understand, Texas law allows shooting an intruder into your own home, not someone else's. So, when he goes to court, he's probably gonna be found guilty of something.

He's probably better off legally because he killed 'em instead of wounding 'em. But, he shouldn't have said anything to the cops before he had talked to a lawyer.

He'll end up wishing he had done what the 911 operator told him to do . . .

[Amorphic]

From what I understand, Texas law allows shooting an intruder into your own home, not someone else's. So, when he goes to court, he's probably gonna be found guilty of something.

He's probably better off legally because he killed 'em instead of wounding 'em. But, he shouldn't have said anything to the cops before he had talked to a lawyer.

He'll end up wishing he had done what the 911 operator told him to do . . .

spot on

[Renesis]

Ima say it right here those of you who say why didn't he shoot them in the legs are idiots plain and simple. Officers are never trained to shoot the arms the legs yada yada because it doesn't make sense to. The body is the biggest target and the fastest and easiest way to eliminate a threat. I know hes not an officer but if trained officers who have to go through target practice are told to shoot the body, then whats the chance of some old man hitting someone with deadly accuracy in the legs with a shotgun? Not only that shooting someone in the legs could kill them anyway you have a major artery running through your leg. My opinion GJ old man

[Tock]

Ya, I don't think it's a good idea for the law to allow neighbors to shoot burglars, because ya never know -- maybe there's a special circumstances involved . . .

Maybe a homeowner could lose their key, and had to break in through a back window (that happened to me once). It wouldn't be good for a neighbor to assume you were a crook, and then shoot and kill you.

[Z-Ro]

Ima say it right here those of you who say why didn't he shoot them in the legs are idiots plain and simple. Officers are never trained to shoot the arms the legs yada yada because it doesn't make sense to. The body is the biggest target and the fastest and easiest way to eliminate a threat. I know hes not an officer but if trained officers who have to go through target practice are told to shoot the body, then whats the chance of some old man hitting someone with deadly accuracy in the legs with a shotgun? Not only that shooting someone in the legs could kill them anyway you have a major artery running through your leg. My opinion GJ old man

I disagree.

I saw my grandpa shoot a water goose in the head with a single shot r***e. It took him only 2-3 tries. I would say that this old man was not a noob to firearms, it seemed as if he knew his weapon and how to handle it.

A shot gun is a whole different story, you cannot miss. Sure, artery is in your leg--so if someone was going to shoot you, you would rather be shot in the torso rather than your leg or arm?

[Z-Ro]

You are making a grossly irresponsible ASSUMPTION about the homeowners personal feelings and beliefs regarding people of other ethnic backgrounds. Can you please quote some statements made by the homeowner which would so much as even hint to him having any racial prejudices? I didnt think so. How can you speculate about things like this? They were two PEOPLE who burglarized a home, and this man intervened, PERIOD. Why does it have to be turned into a racial issue, especially when the homeowner never so much as made any racial remarks at all. You have no right to do so, regardless of any "alledged" racial tensions in the area. You cannot show these racial tensions on a piece of paper, therefore any such speculation is a nonpoint in my mind.

Let me pose a serious question to everyone who has contribued to this thread.

What is a better deterrent to crime?

1) Knowing that each time you decide to commit an illegal act, the innocent citizen that you plan to accost may just have a weapon and be willing to take your life.

or

2) Knowing that you can get away with accosting just about anyone with very minimal risk since most of the public is disarmed, and if by some CHANCE you are caught, then you'll face some time having your freedom deprived, but you'll still be getting 3 meals a day and a place to sleep. But, you have to actually get CAUGHT first.
The odds are that if number 2 is the situation, you're going to be much more likely to take the chance since you know your not risking your life. When did we become a nation where we LET things happen, and then try to figure out who did it, or punish the people later? I mean the logic is rather simple, you would think at least.

The obvious choice is number one, since the penalty would be more than likely death.

I do not agree with burglary and it is wrong--there are tons of assholes who deserve it. My issue is--they were not in HIS house. I would be in 100% support if they had attempted to rob his house.

IMO its like if I saw my neighbor slap his g/f and I walked outside with my pistol and shot him in the head.

[Dizz28]

Ima say it right here those of you who say why didn't he shoot them in the legs are idiots plain and simple. Officers are never trained to shoot the arms the legs yada yada because it doesn't make sense to. The body is the biggest target and the fastest and easiest way to eliminate a threat. I know hes not an officer but if trained officers who have to go through target practice are told to shoot the body, then whats the chance of some old man hitting someone with deadly accuracy in the legs with a shotgun? Not only that shooting someone in the legs could kill them anyway you have a major artery running through your leg. My opinion GJ old man

Officers are trained to not shoot the limbs because are not allowed to "shoot to wound". When an officer uses his firearm it is supposed to be deadly force, That's one of the reasons they shoot the body....also becuase it's the largest, so easiest, target to hit

[VWbug66]

i agree with godfather..plus its a texas law if sumbody intrudes onto ur property after dark you are allowed to shoot them with a gun..im from texas and i back that law 100%..i keep an AR15 in my closet 5 ft away from me with a clip ready to go brotha!!

[Renesis]

Officers are trained to not shoot the limbs because are not allowed to "shoot to wound". When an officer uses his firearm it is supposed to be deadly force, That's one of the reasons they shoot the body....also becuase it's the largest, so easiest, target to hit

Where in what I said is it any different than what you are saying? I know why cops shoot where they are supposed to because my cousin is a cop and my friends entire family are cops. I have asked the question before. Im not getting the point to your response if you could elaborate please do so.

[Renesis]

I disagree.

I saw my grandpa shoot a water goose in the head with a single shot r***e. It took him only 2-3 tries. I would say that this old man was not a noob to firearms, it seemed as if he knew his weapon and how to handle it.

A shot gun is a whole different story, you cannot miss. Sure, artery is in your leg--so if someone was going to shoot you, you would rather be shot in the torso rather than your leg or arm?

It took him only 2-3 tries... great I guess next time I try to shoot someone attacking me ill hope that in 2-3 tries I can hit one of his limbs.... And of course with a shotgun within a decent range you can't miss,but there are two guys and the the guy who shot is old. I can safely assume he isn't Neo from the matrix and would be able to shoot both of them in the legs with a lot of speed without being harmed when they are within 15 yards as stated. You won't die right away if shot in the leg so the guy with the crow bar would have a chance at dealing some damage. If you shoot them in the torso and there isn't much chance they will still come after you. Not only that you kill one guy the other guy most likely won't want to attack you now in fear of death.

[Teabagger]

Triple tap...2 to the chest...1 to the head. 2 less pieces of scum sucking up the air vitimizing society.