Man Kills Suspects While On Phone With 911

Two Men Shot In Texas By Joe Horn Who Saw Suspects Leaving Neighbor's House

(CBS)  The 911 call came from a Pasadena, Tex., resident, who alerted police to two burglary suspects on a neighbor's property. Before he hung up, two men were dead by his hand.

Joe Horn, 61, told the dispatcher what he intended to do: Walk out his front door with a shotgun.

"I've got a shotgun," Horn said, according to a tape of the 911 call. "Do you want me to stop them?"

"Nope, don't do that - ain't no property worth shooting somebody over, OK?" the dispatcher responded.

"Hurry up man, catch these guys, will you? 'Cause I'm ain't gonna let 'em go, I'm gonna be honest with you, I'm not gonna let 'em go. I'm not gonna let 'em get away with this ----."

Shortly after, Horn said he sees one suspect was standing in front of his house, looking at it from the street.

"I don’t know if they’re armed or not. I know they got a crowbar 'cause that's what they broke the windows with. ... Man, this is scary, I can't believe this is happening in this neighborhood."

He gets more agitated. The dispatcher asks if he can see the suspects but they had retreated into the target's house, out of view: "I can go out the front [to look], but if I go out the front I'm bringing my shotgun with me, I swear to God. I am not gonna let 'em get away with this, I can't take a chance on getting killed over this, OK? I'm gonna shoot, I'm gonna shoot."

"Stay inside the house and don’t go out there, OK?" the dispatcher said. "I know you're pissed off, I know what you're feeling, but it's not worth shooting somebody over this, OK?"

"I don’t want to," Horn said, "but I mean if I go out there, you know, to see what the hell is going on, what choice am I gonna have?

"No, I don’t want you to go out there, I just asked if you could see anything out there."

The dispatcher asks if a vehicle could be seen; Horn said no. The dispatcher again says Horn should stay inside the house.

Almost five minutes into the call, police had not arrived.

"I can’t see if [the suspects are] getting away or not," Horn said.

Horn told the dispatcher that he doesn’t know the neighbors well, unlike those living on the other side of his home. "I can assure you if it had been their house, I would have already done something, because I know them very well," he said.

Dispatcher: "I want you to listen to me carefully, OK?"

Horn: "Yes?"

Dispatcher: "I got ultras coming out there. I don't want you to go outside that house. And I don't want you to have that gun in your hand when those officers are poking around out there."

Horn: "I understand that, OK, but I have a right to protect myself too, sir, and you understand that. And the laws have been changed in this country since September the First and you know it and I know it."

Dispatcher: "I understand."

Horn: "I have a right to protect myself ..."

Dispatcher: "I'm ..."

Horn: "And a shotgun is a legal weapon, it's not an illegal weapon."

Dispatcher: "No, it's not, I'm not saying that, I'm just not wanting you to ..."

Horn: "OK, he's coming out the window right now, I gotta go, buddy. I'm sorry, but he's coming out the window. "

Dispatcher: "No, don't, don't go out the door, Mister Horn. Mister Horn..."

Horn: "They just stole something, I'm going out to look for 'em, I'm sorry, I ain't letting them get away with this ----. They stole something, they got a bag of stuff. I'm doing it!"

Dispatcher: "Mister, do not go outside the house."

Horn: "I'm sorry, this ain't right, buddy."

Dispatcher: "You gonna get yourself shot if you go outside that house with a gun, I don't care what you think."

Horn: "You wanna make a bet?"

Dispatcher: "Stay in the house."

Horn: "There, one of them's getting away!

Dispatcher: "That's alright, property's not something worth killing someone over. OK? Don't go out the house, don't be shooting nobody. I know you're pissed and you're frustrated but don't do it."

Horn: "They got a bag of loot."

Dispatcher: "OK. How big is the bag?" He then talks off, relaying the information.

Dispatcher: "Which way are they going?"

Horn: "I can't ... I'm going outside. I'll find out."

Dispatcher: "I don't want you going outside, Mister..."

Horn: "Well, here it goes buddy, you hear the shotgun clicking and I'm going."

Dispatcher: "Don't go outside."

On the tape of the 911 call, the shotgun can be heard being cocked and Horn can be heard going outside and confronting someone.

"Boom! You're dead!" he shouts. A loud bang is heard, then a shotgun being cocked and fired again, and then again.

Then Horn is back on the phone:

"Get the law over here quick. I've now, get, one of them's in the front yard over there, he's down, he almost run down the street. I had no choice. They came in the front yard with me, man, I had no choice! ... Get somebody over here quick, man."

Dispatcher: "Mister Horn, are you out there right now?"

Horn: "No, I am inside the house, I went back in the house. Man, they come right in my yard, I didn't know what the --- they was gonna do, I shot 'em, OK?"

Dispatcher: "Did you shoot somebody?

Horn: "Yes, I did, the cops are here right now."

Dispatcher: "Where are you right now?"

Horn: "I'm inside the house. ..."

Dispatcher: "Mister Horn, put that gun down before you shoot an officer of mine. I've got several officers out there without uniforms on."

Horn: "I am in the front yard right now. I am ..."

Dispatcher: "Put that gun down! There's officers out there without uniforms on. Do not shoot anybody else, do you understand me? I've got police out there..."

Horn: "I understand, I understand. I am out in the front yard waving my hand right now."

Dispatcher: "You don't have a gun with you, do you?

Horn: "No, no, no."

Dispatcher: "You see a uniformed officer? Now lay down on the ground and don't do nothing else."

Yelling is heard.

Dispatcher: "Lay down on the ground, Mister Horn. Do what the officers tell you to do right now."

Two days later, Horn released a statement through an attorney.

“The events of that day will weigh heavily on me for the rest of my life," it said. "My thoughts go out to the loved ones of the deceased.”

The identities of the men killed were released Friday.

They are Miguel Antonio Dejesus, 38, and Diego Ortiz, 30. Official records show that each of them had a prior arrest in Harris County for drug offenses.

The men were reportedly shot at a distance of less than 15 feet.

A woman who lives nearby who asked not to be identified told CBS News affiliate KHOU correspondent Rucks Russell that she always saw Horn as a grandfather figure. "He is the guardian of the neighborhood," she said. "He takes care of all our kids. If we ever need anything, we call him.”

But according to Tom Lambright, Horn’s attorney and a friend for more than four decades, he’s the one in need now. “He just needs everyone to know he’s not a villain, he’s not a bad guy,” Lambright said.

He went on to say that Horn voluntarily gave an extensive video statement to police immediately following the shooting.

Horn was not taken into custody after the shooting. A Harris County grand jury will decide if charges are to be filed.

Lambright says Horn acted in complete and total self defense and has nothing to hide.

Local opinion has been passionate on both sides of the shooting.

One letter to the Houston Chronicle said, "He didn't shoot them in the legs, to make sure they did not run away, or hold them at gunpoint until police arrived. No, he was judge, jury and executioner."

Another letter writer praised Horn, saying, "Where does the line form to pin a medal on Joe Horn? I want to get in line." Another wrote, "Let's get rid of the police force and just hire Joe Horn!"

Support for Horn was also running about 2-1 in an online survey of readers on the KHOU Web site.

The incident may prove a test for a new law recently passed in Texas which expands the right of citizens to use deadly force.

Under Texas law, people may use deadly force to protect their own property or to stop arson, burglary, robbery, theft or criminal mischief at night.

But the legislator who authored the "castle doctrine" bill told the Chronicle it was never intended to apply to a neighbor's property, to prompt a "'Law West of the Pecos' mentality or action," said Republican Sen. Jeff Wentworth. "You're supposed to be able to defend your own home, your own family, in your house, your place of business or your motor vehicle."

[kinley91]

I like what happened here because it will make criminals think twice before robbing a home, unknowing whether a neighbor as crazy as mr horn might be next door to blow their brains out.

[gettysburg12]

To be honest, I wouldn't go after someone breaking into my neighbor's house. I'd dial 911 and just wait for law enforcement which can prove to be very frustrating when they don't response ASAP. And then...I'd get the camera and start shooting pictures, which could come in mighty handy for identification purposes. It's not worth risking one's life to subdue a trespasser or prevent your neighbor's home from being robbed. These burglars apparently didn't have a weapon...that point wasn't clear, but the unknown is what can get you killed. You shouldn't try to be a hero when lives aren't in danger. Material things and personal possessions can be replaced...that's what home insurance is for.

[GTK52]

Hey expatriate07, Americans are not bloodthirst you ignorant fool. You know nothing. Our glorious nation has never fought a war in which we were the bad guys. I do not know what third-world hell hole you crawled out of but first of all you cannot just stereotype an entire nation on the actions of one man, and second, this man has a right to defend his or his neighbors property. The commandment against killing is misinterpreted. I study theology. The real English translation is though shalt not MURDER. What Joe did was not in cold blood, he defended himself. Oh and by the way... grow a set you misinformed, stereotyping, bigot.

[GTK52]

Wow i wish California had the castle law. All you can do here is shoot if your life is in danger. Also whoever said that Joe should have shot him in the legs is very unintelligent. When you shoot someone, whether you are a cop, soldier, or civilian, you always shoot to kill, which mean shoot for the torso. And anyone that brings up forgiveness needs to shut up because they were not on their knees begging for mercy, they were approaching him. What do you think they would have done if they got within range of Joe? Calmly take the shot gun from him?

[lemicit]

Joe is a hero. Joe, if you have any interest in politics, run against US Rep Cuellar.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by justsane at 01:22 AM : Nov 22, 2007

Yes, I consider this man a hero! No one has even the right to tresspass on your property, much less come on it and steal from you or yours, including your neighbors.

Evidently you have no idea what it''s like to live in a city where it''s not even safe to take the garbage to the end of the drive after dark.

Being Christian, or not Christian has nothing to do with this. The issue here is being a diligent citizen.

When someone comes on your property it is not very smart at all, to sit back and just let them tote it off, or sit back and wait to see if they intend to do you harm. They''ve broken the law twice right there.

These were grown men, they weren''t kids on a lark. They were already on a path to self-destruct. Good riddance.

If more people took the path of deadly force I firmly believe there would be less crime.

[guysdigdirt]

If they were within 15 feet when shot, they were not running away most likely. If they were in his yard as is stated and moving towards him, they were stupid and deserved to be shot. If a criminal is approaching you and knows you have a gun, you have to assume the worst and shhot to kill, not harm.

[mrmazerati]

Horn killed two people who were stealing someone else''s property. Death for stealing. From the sound of him now, I think maybe he thinks he overreacted a bit. I would agree with him.

[carieg197]

Dear justsane...
I''m sorry but I am not Christian and I take offense to your general view "and somehow, it wouldn''''t surprise me at all to find that most of you consider yourselves christians and think that you are superior to the "barbaric" muslim terrorists. sadly, you can''''t even see the irony in that... "

What it all comes down to is that dead were criminals or criminals in training and what type of role model is that? I have no statistics other then what I read, see about previously convicted criminals getting out and reverting back to thier old ways and or helping young ones, but it is OBVIOUS that the system is greatly flawed and for one person to make right a wrong(yes I beleive in the death penalty) then go for it. It saves me the hassle of the media pumping it into my vison, ears nose and throat and yanking what is force fed from my arse! Get real. Basic facts... they knew what they were doing was wrong, but decided to ignore it. That is thier bad, not Joe Horn!

[carieg197]

thank you MichaelT302 for your compliment! Someone else made a good point as well...

" Finally, someone who has the guts to do the right thing and protect himself. It appears the bad guys approached the wrong fellow and paid with their life. The short firing distance between Mr. Horn and the crooks tells all of which we need know about and that he acted courageously. Who in the right would argue with a shotgun? Those two should have stopped in there tracks and waited for the police to arrive to sort it out. Mr. Horn performed a public service and ought to be commended. Oh, and as far as wounding the two VERSUS killing them, Mr. Horn seems to have out-smarted you on that one. Think about the field day of lawsuits against Mr. Horn over that!



Posted by nitemare_77"

[questionnews]

I guess the big question is should a person get involved in stopping a crime if it doesn''t involve themselves or thier property. What should be acted on & what should ignored? Ignore a robbery? (I can hear it now "They''re just after property and they should die because of stealing property. More & more home invasion robberies are ending up with dead home owners.) At what point does a citizen try & stop a crime? Should you try & stop the mugging & beating of an old women? Should you try & stop a man from beating & raping a small child? Are any of these crimes worth using deadly force to stop? Some will argue that none of these crimes qualify for the death sentence, (if it''s my kid you can bet that I will be looking to take him out) but if deadly force is required to stop these kind of crimes, should the person stopping the crime be in any kind of trouble?

[nitemare_77]

Finally, someone who has the guts to do the right thing and protect himself. It appears the bad guys approached the wrong fellow and paid with their life. The short firing distance between Mr. Horn and the crooks tells all of which we need know about and that he acted courageously. Who in the right would argue with a shotgun? Those two should have stopped in there tracks and waited for the police to arrive to sort it out. Mr. Horn performed a public service and ought to be commended. Oh, and as far as wounding the two VERSUS killing them, Mr. Horn seems to have out-smarted you on that one. Think about the field day of lawsuits against Mr. Horn over that!

The dispatcher stated to Mr. Horn that no property is worth the life of another. True enough and somebody should have said the same to the two burglars.

[expatriate07]

Sad to see so many blood thirsty Americans speak as such. Are you bible thumpers? Because the old testament says "eye for an eye". These men stole and they were met with death. Do you support the death penalty for the guy that stole your bike when you were a kid? Oh, and I think Jesus talked a lot about forgiveness, I''m pretty sure he never said kill people who stole from your neighbor, whom which you don''t really even know.

[vfr4rf]

Would it have been better if he imobilized them instead of killing? I believe that Mr. Horn was very angry. Angry to see what this society is turning into. I can understand that. We need a lot more of "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Thou shalt not steal." Those men should have not have tried to steal. The message here is stay honest and you never have to look over your back for trouble. Of course these idiots wanted to take what wasn''t theirs, now two are dead. Were they illegal? If that''s the case this trend could continue. Brace yourselves I think the road ahead is extremely rocky.

[vfr4rf]

Would it have been better if he imobilized them instead of killing? I believe that Mr. Horn was very angry. Angry to see what this society is turning into. I can understand that. We need a lot more of "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Thou shalt not steal." Those men should have not have tried to steal. The message here is stay honest and you never have to look over your back for trouble. Of course these idiots wanted to take what wasn''t theirs, now two are dead. Were they illegal? If that''s the case this trend could continue. Brace yourselves I think the road ahead is extremely rocky.

[broxteen]

Cry me a river... the criminals were exterminated. Don''t steel other peoples property and you might live another day.you dare to call it Vigilante... its called Justis Thank the framers of the Constitution for the 2nd ammendment and thank the Texas legislature for correct laws that protect law abiding citizens against the scum of the earth. Death to common criminal!

[T2_Squared]

I can not abide a thief. Thieves have the idea that "what is your, is mine". If you steal you should know that you may wind up paying for that thievery with your life.

Mr. Horn saw a wrong being committed on his neighbor and could not stand by and allow it to just happen. It did not matter that it was not his house or his property (next time it could have been). He had to take action. He did not do so lightly. He tried to get the police to come but it was taking them too long (as it does in my city). The thieves were going to get away - again.

You may call it the "wild west" or vigilante justice but I for one would be glad to have Mr. Horn live in my neighborhood. Someone who will not just stand idly by while thieves steal the neighborhood blind.

[questionnews]

Sounds like there are a few Mrs. Kravitz types out there who would rather peek out the window and yell "Abner! Abner! someone is robbing the house next door!!" "Get away from the window Gladys, don''t get involved & let them go about thier business"

[x-legion-x]

Thank you Mr Horn, we need more people like you. Hopefully, the theives amoung us will see this story and think twice before causing terror to our society. It''s good to see, that in our country there are still those that have the courage to stand-up and take action against criminals and sending the message that enough IS enough.

I would like to donate to your defense and will look into that ASAP. I''m sure a few phone calls to the area will get me in contact with the proper people. I also encourage others that are reading this story to do the same. We, as a society, can thank Mr Horn by helping him through the legal mess he will be dragged through.

Thank you again,