A neighbor saw four people trying to burglarize a home next door and decided to confront the alleged thieves. Then, bullets began to fly.
Police say the neighbor saw four men allegedly kicking in a side door and trying to take items out of the house at the end of a quiet street. He went inside his own home and got his gun before confronting the men.
"He went back inside, retrieved a pistol, came outside, confronted them," said HPD Sgt. Kevin Morgan. "One of them reached towards his waist like he was pulling a gun. The homeowner fired three shots, struck one of them in the back."
Eyewitness Audrey Pavelka said, "He was just hollering, help me help me, I'm gonna die, my back."
The wounded man ran off, collapsed at a nearby apartment complex and was captured.
Three other suspects got away -- two fleeing on foot and one by car.
The injured suspect was taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is now listed as stable.
The owners of the house that was burglarized were not home at the time.
Police say the case will go to a grand jury, but no charges are being filed at this point.
