“Omar Monterrosa told police he saw the men carrying a TV, laptop and other items from the house across the street. He said he was worried about the two women who live in the house so he went inside and grabbed a gun.” Then he crossed the street. khou.com has the skinny, such as it is . . .
Monterrosa confronted the suspects and ordered them to get down on the ground. “One of them reached towards his waist like he was pulling a gun, the homeowner fired three shots,” said HPD Sgt. Kevin Martin.
How will this little melodrama play out? Here’s a definitive answer for you: it depends. It happened in Texas, a definite plus. If this were New Jersey, Mr. Monterrosa’s neighbors – no matter how grateful they may be – would be saying hasta la vista to him for a while.
Other factors influencing the outcome will include Omar’s age, his criminal history (if any), the prosecutor assigned to the case, the condition of the wounded burglar, his rap sheet, the rap sheets of his three buddies who beat feet when the lead started to fly, whether or not the two women who own the burgled house across the street were home at the time (the story isn’t clear on that one, it seems they weren’t) and a good half dozen more variables yet to be determined.
Best guess: it will break Monterrosa’s way. Unless it doesn’t. And that’s the risk a gunowner takes when inserting himself into a non-life threatening situation.