HOUSTON — A man was shot to death while breaking into a home in northwest Harris County late Tuesday night, according to the sheriff's office.
This happened shortly before midnight on Woodoak Drive in the Woodland Trails West neighborhood off Fairbanks North Houston Road.
Officials said the man had been trying to break into multiple homes in the area. One homeowner spotted him in his backyard and ran him off.
At some point, the suspect grabbed a shovel and broke a window at another home before trying to climb through it. That's when HCSO said a homeowner grabbed a gun and shot the man multiple times.
First responders attempted first aid at the scene before the man was taken to an area hospital where he was ultimately pronounced dead.
Investigators were working to talk with other homeowners and potential witnesses in the area and to gather surveillance video.
A neighbor said there's been a crime problem in the area.
"We've had quite a few break-ins in the last couple of months, in cars especially," Daniel Picazo told us. "I'm not 100 percent sure about houses but we've had reports of prowlers in people's backyards and stuff of that nature."
HCSO said the case will be referred to a grand jury to determine whether any charges will be filed.
"They will decide whether the homeowner was within their right to use deadly force or if they were not, then they possibly would call for charges," HCSO Sgt. Michael Ritchie said.