Joe Horn killing two people breaking into neighbors house?

Question

I just wanted to know, is this actually covered under Texas' laws? That you can shoot someone breaking into your neighbor's house? I think its a little over excessive, but they deserve what they got. Thieves, who knows what they would have done if they would have been confronted with someone in the house?

My question: Can you shoot someone breaking into your neighbor's house/car/whatever?

Can you shoot someone breaking into your car? I didn't think you could unless they showed agressive actions towards you.

What do you guys think? What's the laws on this?

I don't think any property is worth killing people over. But I would definitely confront them with a shotgun as Horn did, in an attempt to put them in jail. If they came after me, I would of course, kill them.

I don't know though, the whole thing is kind of sketchy.

British guy. We're TEXANS, we don't put our guns away sir.

Answer 1

No, you can shoot someone breaking into YOUR house. You can't go roaming around the neighborhood like the Lone Ranger busting off caps into burglars.

Answer 2

You can shoot someone entering your house if you feel your life is in danger. That doesn't mean sneaking up and shooting them in the back.

In Texas there was a ruling just recently saying you can legally shoot someone trying to steal you car but again you have to prove they acted aggressively towards you.

Joe Horn will probably end up being convicted of manslaughter. I know if this happened in California he'd be up for murder charges. As a private citizen he could've held them at gun point until police arrived but just chose to kill them outright.

Even the cops have to give a criminal a chance to surrender under those circumstances. As it was they were just leaving the place with stolen goods.
I heard the live broadcast of the 911 call, it went down pretty fast.

Answer 3

The law is a little vague. The police leaked the "shot in the back" story to try to turn pubic opinion against him, because they want him prosecuted, but he may be covered under the law because of his age.

He could not catch them once they started running and he did warn them not to move and also verbally threatened them with their lives if they did.

I think it is the 911 call that has the police upset. He was told by the operator not to go outside.

Around here mostly cops work the 911 system and they don't like it when people don't do as they are told.

Answer 4

No property is worth killing people for.
Plus the police arrived within a couple of minutes after the 2 victims were shot dead by Horn.

Horn could also have easily killed the police.
It really is the Wild Wild West.

Answer 5

You can shoot the burglars if you go to confront them to protect your neigbor's property and they threaten you though.

That's the story Horn is going with. Sounds like a winner to me. One was shot on Horn's property, so it at least sounds plausible.

Answer 6

as of Sept. 1st 2007, yes a third party can protect another persons house.

2nd Q: until Sept. 1 you were correct ("unless they showed aggressive actions towards you") unless the vehicle is a place of residence, i.e. semi truck or Winnebago or something similar. now you have a right to protect your property regardless

for those that say "no property is worth killing for", that is backwards, the fact is no property is worth dying for something these criminals did not understand

Answer 7

No according to Texas law you can not shoot some useless scumbag illegal breaking into your friends house.
However he confronted them and they came to his yard one with a crowbar and were threatening him. If he felt his or someone else life was in immediate danger he can use deadly force. IE. Shoot the useless scum dirtbags.

Answer 8

In England you can use 'reasonable force' in self defence. If someone is running away or obviously unarmed you would be charged with murder, even if they are on your property. You guys should really put your guns away!