Homeowner fatally shoots robbery suspect in Fort Bend Co.

FORT BEND COUNTY (KTRK) -- A homeowner shot and killed a man trying to rob him Wednesday night at his home in Fort Bend County. And the sheriff had a strong message for criminals -- "You may want to go back to Harris County."

Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls tells Eyewitness News the would-be robber demanded money from the homeowner as he pulled into his driveway in the 18300 block of Mossy Creek. That's in the Mission Sierra subdivision near Richmond.

Instead, the homeowner grabbed a gun from his vehicle and shot the man two times. A photograph taken just moments after shows the homeowner--with his gun in hand--standing steps away from the man's lifeless body in his front yard. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"We are investigating this as an attempted robbery," Sheriff Nehls said.

According to Nehls, two weapons were recovered at the scene, one from the homeowner and the other from the robber.

"This appears to be pretty cut-and-dry," Nehls added.

Nehls had a stern message for criminals coming from Harris County to Fort Bend County. Investigators have not confirmed if the dead man lived in Harris County.

"Don't come into Fort Bend County and start waving guns around because you could leave in a bag," Nehls said.

Nehls went on to say, "We just want to come home from work and spend time with our families. We don't need thugs coming into this county to try to rob us of our possessions. So here's my warning to criminals. You may want to go back to Harris County."

The deceased is described as a Hispanic man in his 20s. Neighbors say they saw a black truck with two people inside speed off from the scene.

"He did the right thing." said Sandra Ramirez of her neighbor. "People are ready to defend their homes."