Thread: Man who shot IAs in his front yard may be charged

Man Who Says He Shot Illegals in His 'Front Yard' May Be Charged
By Randy Hall
CNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor
December 07, 2007

(CNSNews.com) - A man from Pasadena, Texas, who shot and killed two illegal aliens after they burglarized a neighbor's house remains under investigation by the local police over the incident, which has divided the community between people who consider the shooter a "good neighbor" and others who think he is a murderer.

At about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 61-year-old Joe Horn was working on his computer when he heard the sound of breaking glass come from a neighbor's house. He quickly called 911 and asked the dispatcher to send the police to the scene after stating he'd seen two men enter the residence.

"I've got a shotgun," Horn said less than 20 seconds into the call. "Do you want me to stop 'em?"

"Nope, don't do that," the dispatcher replied. "Ain't no property worth shooting somebody over, OK?"

As time passed with no sign of the police, Horn became anxious that the men would get away. "Hurry up man, catch these guys, will you?" he asked before noting that "the laws have been changed" since Sept. 1, when S.B. 378 went into effect in the state, giving victims the right to use firearms against intruders on their property.

About six minutes into the call, Horn said he saw one of the men "coming out the window right now. I got to go, buddy. I'm sorry, but he's coming out the window."

"No, don't," the dispatcher responded.

"I'm sorry, I ain't letting them get away with this," said Horn. "They stole something. They got a bag of stuff. I'm doing it. You hear the shotgun clicking, and I'm going."

Despite a request from the dispatcher for Horn not to go outside, the next sound on the recording of the call is him shouting, "Move, you're dead!" Moments later, three shotgun blasts were fired.

When Horn returned to the phone, he told the dispatcher: "Get the law over here quick. They came in the front yard with me, man. I had no choice."

As a result of the incident, Miguel Antonio DeJesus, 38, and Diego Ortiz, 30, died from wounds that police experts say were inflicted by a shotgun about 15 feet in front of them.

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," he said. "My thoughts go out to the loved ones of the deceased."

Over the next several days, information about the victims was released to the media, including the fact that both men were from Colombia, both had criminal records in the U.S., and both were in this country illegally.

However, the fact that two dark-skinned Hispanic men had been killed by a Caucasian just a few miles from Houston - which has declared itself a "sanctuary city" that does not allow city employees and police officers to ask people about their immigration status - quickly revealed divisions within the community.

This past Sunday, dozens of people led by the New Black Panther Nation activist group marched down Horn's street to protest the shooting and demand that he be arrested for committing murder.

"We don't condone anyone breaking into anybody's home and stealing," said Quanell X, the group's leader. "But we also don't condone a citizen becoming the police, the judge, the jury and the executioner, all at the same time."

"Mr. Horn did not have to kill those men," he added. "So, we say that a life is too precious to go out with a gun over some stolen merchandise when no one's life is in danger."

'Castle doctrine' in action

But the protesters were met by an equal number of neighbors who said they believe Horn did the right thing and followed the provisions of S.B. 378, which is also called the "castle principle" because it follows the old saying that "a man's home is his castle," and he should be able to defend it and himself with a firearm.

One such supporter created the JoeHornForMyNeighbor.com Web site because "there are plenty of us out there who would like to have him as a neighbor."

"The ability to defend our families and our homes should be a fundamental right for all citizens. It's not just a right, it's a responsibility," the site says. "Our families and our neighborhoods are worth defending, and our future as a nation depends on it."

Vance Mitchell, a spokesman for the Pasadena police, told Cybercast News Service on Thursday that the department's investigation into the matter is expected to be concluded within the next week. At that time, all findings will be given to the district attorney, who will then decide what charges - if any - will be filed against Horn.

Dave Workman, communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), said on Thursday that he really wants to see what the grand jury does with this case because it's "really interesting."

"Horn had absolutely no way of knowing that these guys were illegal aliens, so that doesn't count when you pull the trigger," he told Cybercast News Service. "He also had no way of knowing that they had prior criminal backgrounds, so that doesn't count when you pull the trigger either."

"The only thing that will count is whether Horn acted properly within the parameters of Texas law," Workman said. "Once your property line is crossed, the bad guy is fair game, so, in a strict sense, this was the 'castle doctrine' at work."

Nevertheless, "if you're claiming self-defense, you can't announce ahead of time you're going outside to shoot somebody, and that could be Horn's problem" if any charges are filed.

But the outcome of any grand jury deliberations may have been foreshadowed on Tuesday, when seven candidates in next Saturday's election for the new mayor of Pasadena were asked about Horn's fate during a debate, and none of them said he should face prosecution for his actions on Nov. 14.
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?P ... 1207a.html

You Tube:
QUANNEL X ON HANNITY AND COLMES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWsnBZfj ... chdog.com/

You Tube:
Criminals Shot by Joe Horn are illegal aliens - O'Reilly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clm1OJl2 ... chdog.com/

I want friends and Neighbors like this man. Let someone come through my door and they will never be the same again. Criminals need to be put on notice.. you come through the door your getting lit up and no it's not a race thing as far as I am concerned ... you come through my door... it doesnt matter if you are white with green polka dots ... be prepared to get some, because I am

Mr. Horn should be nominated neighbor of the year.

Video:
KHOU first broke the story
http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/002601.html

I hope they do not use this man to teach us a lesson (use as an example) we had better not shoot criminals ( illegal or otherwise) or we will be convicted. How much do you want to bet OBL"s or special interest groups are behind this.

Is this going to be the spark that lights the fire.. I guess we will see because the embers are starting to glow.

America has had it with the Illegal Aliens and our corrupt politicians

Wouldn't this be a textbook example of "attrition through enforcement"?

Heard about it on Laura Ingraham today too.

Quannel X??? Must be the leader of aliens from plant Wacko!