Widow left grieving after man's murder at N. Harris County auto shop

HARRIS COUNTY (KTRK) -- The widow of a man shot and killed at an auto shop last month says her family's future is uncertain after his death.

"We are lost without him. You took away everything we ever knew," Erika De Soto cried.

Her husband of 22 years, Hipolito "Tommy" De Soto was shot and killed March 7. Her garage holds the last motorcycle he built for her. He didn't live long enough to ride it.

"I would like for justice to be served for my husband who was a great man and did not deserve this. Please help us in receiving justice for my husband," De Soto cried.

Tommy De Soto made his living repairing motorcycles. On March 7, he went to IDB Racing, Repair and Restoration on FM 1960 to have a part made. Investigators say De Soto entered the office and spoke with the owner, William Kitchens. Kitchens claimed Tommy De Soto was aggressive and threatening and he shot Tommy De Soto several times.

Investigators say that story doesn't match up with a video recording. Kitchens is now charged with murder.

"I don't see how anybody can say self defense is shooting somebody in the chest and in the eye and in the back. That's not self defense," De Soto said.

She says her husband was a good man and the sole breadwinner for the family. He never drank or smoked and he rebuilt a truck for his son Trevor. His family is now torn apart and unable to heal.

"We're lost. We're lost without him. We want him home. We want justice for what they did to him. It's not right," she said.

Kitchens has bonded out of jail. His attorney maintains Kitchens acted in self defense and says they are still investigating to get to the bottom of what really happened that day.