Officials: Harris man fatally shoots teen at home

A homeowner who had twice ordered a teenager to leave the property — once while holding a rifle — shot the teen dead after the boy refused to leave and walked toward him, authorities said.

“He feared for his life,” said Harris County sheriff’s Lt. Rolf Nelson.

Dwayne Austgen, 69, was inside his north Harris County home in the 5500 block of Susanna around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday when he noticed a teenager in his front yard, officials said. The man went outside, confronted 17-year-old Vidal Herrera, and told him to leave, authorities said.

After the teen left the property, Austgen noticed Herrera had left a crack cocaine pipe, officials said. Austgen then went back inside his home, taking the pipe with him, officials said.

A short while later, Herrera returned to the home, confronted Austgen about the pipe, and the pair argued, officials said. Austgen, this time holding a rifle, again ordered the teen to leave, officials said. Herrera began to walk away but then approached the homeowner, who fired the .22-caliber rifle, striking the teen in the abdomen, officials said. Herrera was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he died.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6485129.html

He was also wheelchair bound and used an oxygen tank.

"The case will be referred to a Harris County grand jury without charges"
This is SOP according to Texas law. If not charged, or found "not guilty" or "innocent" in a trial he will be immune to a wrongfully death civil suit, again in accordance with Texas law.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

At least you didn't use the "dick extension" reference. Wonders never cease.

as it makes the people that constantly say that VERY few people use a firearm for self defense look rather foolish.

And I could point out that you can only post those incidents that make the news. At the minimum there probably are three or four times the amount of incidents involving the defensive use of firearms which never receive media attention.

These posts should make people who oppose gun ownership by honest people question their stance. If they were ever to implement their ideas we would live in an extremely violent society at the mercy of the criminal element.

Rather then advocate "feel good" laws which would accomplish little or nothing expect to leave honest citizens unarmed, I wish they would focus their efforts on better enforcement of existing gun laws, and legislation that would improve education, equal opportunity and of course the availability of meaningful well paying jobs.

For the love of fuck.

Give the kid his pipe back, he goes away.

But nooooo.

FAR BETTER to kill him.

Hell, when you already have an aging population, why not kill off your young?

this is clearly self defense.

That's always a good idea. :eyes:

Drug addicts never commit crimes to supply their habit and of course drug addicts are never violent.

:sarcasm:

David

Why are you so rude and unpleasant, Dave?

I'm not angry, but it makes me kind of ashamed that I'm not. I really should be angry about the killing of a kid. I guess I just get inured around here, to the killing and the cheering.

I was just thinking how in a trailer park, kids go through another person's yard on a regular basis. It's the norm. Unless the teen showed that they were going to get violent, this seems reactionary.

A crackhead that had returned after being asked to leave. A crackhead that was approaching the old man in his wheelchair. The police seemed to think it was justified.

David

I find it strange people even on a .22LR for home defense.

I wouldn't want to put my life behind it. Glad it worked out ok for the homeowner.

Herrera made a bad choice and paid for it.