According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, at around 4:45am the homeowner heard his truck being stolen outside his house in the Whispering Pines subdivision and saw the suspect drive off in his vehicle. The homeowner told his wife to call 9-1-1, armed himself, jumped into his other vehicle and followed the suspect.
Near the intersection of Atascocita and Will Clayton Parkway, the homeowner caught up to the suspect and told police that the suspect displayed what he believed to be a firearm.
Police say the homeowner opened fire and struck the suspect, who crossed the southbound lanes of Atascocita in the truck and crashed into a ditch.
The suspect, later identified as 19-year-old Damion Gibson, was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators say the suspect may not have picked the best target.
"Our homeowner, he is a Desert Storm veteran, he is ex-military, and from talking to the patrolmen up here, they have had a rash of auto thefts up here over the last couple of months and so the man was just protecting his property," said Deputy Ben Bell.
The case will now go to a Harris County Grand Jury to decide if charges will be filed.
