A Houston father was shot to death in front of his family early Sunday morning in a home invasion, part of which was caught on surveillance video from across the street.
The video showed a man opening and closing the apparently unlocked door of a truck in the family’s driveway at about 1:30 a.m., KTRK reported. An hour later a man wearing similar clothing enters the house from the carport, and six minutes later, at least two people are seen running away.
Police told the station that the assailants made noise, waking the family. The 36-year-old man told his wife to get down and stood up, but he was shot by at least one of the suspects. He died in the hallway.
A woman who identified herself as the victim’s stepdaughter told KTRK that his 5-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter were awake and saw the shooting. She said the suspects wore masks and all black, although the video shows at least one of them wearing light colored shorts.
Houston police, however, said the wife and children did not see the shooting, according to KRIV. The victim’s wife told investigators they saw three men trying to break into the truck in the carport on their own surveillance camera and that they heard gunshots after the father went to investigate.
The family has asked that their names not be released until they have finished notifying relatives in Cuba, where the victim emigrated from about five years ago, KTRK said.
Houston police said they found multiple shell casings at the scene that were likely from two different guns.
“It’s very traumatic for the wife and kids,” said Det. David Higgs. “It’s a situation no one ever wants to be in. It’s very senseless at this point. We think it’s an isolated event. There’s no reason for anybody else in the area to be concerned.”
Police ask anyone with information to call the Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.
