Authorities are trying to figure out what led up to a deadly shooting in Alief Tuesday morning after they said a man called 911 to report he shot and killed someone inside his car.
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It happened outside an apartment complex on Beechnut near South Course Drive around 4:45 a.m. when the caller reached Houston PD’s dispatch office to admit what he’d done.
Preliminary details shared by Houston police are the car owner was heading to his vehicle when he saw a man sitting in the front seat, allegedly rummaging through it. He went back to his apartment, grabbed a gun, and returned to confront the suspect.
The man then told the person in his car to get out, who replied, “If you’re gonna do it, do it,” before making a lunging motion. Police said the car owner then fired his weapon, hitting the man rummaging in his car, who died at the scene.
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Investigators said the shooter is cooperating with police, and they are working with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to determine if charges will be filed or if the case will be presented to a grand jury.
Despite how much of a nuisance it has been for some Houston-area residents dealing with people breaking into their cars, HPD Homicide Detective Juan Diaz said it’s still usually best to leave things in law enforcement’s hands.
“In all instances, it’s usually beneficial and probably best to call the authorities if it’s a life and death situation,” he explained. “Of course, sometimes you’re going to act accordingly but we don’t want to judge here or there you know whether he was right or wrong -- but in his mind, at that time, he dealt what he was you know what was right in his mind for his defending his property.”