Grand Jury Clears Hero

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Joe Horn cleared by grand jury in Pasadena shootings
Panel issues no-bill after two weeks of testimony

By BRIAN ROGERS and RUTH RENDON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

The shooting of two burglary suspects has sparked heated debate about property rights, gun control and other issues.

A Harris County grand jury decided today that Joe Horn should not be charged with a crime for shooting two burglary suspects he confronted outside his neighbor's home in Pasadena last fall.

The decision to clear Horn of wrongdoing came two weeks after the grand jury began considering evidence in the case, including Horn's testimony last week.

Horn, a 62-year-old retiree, became the focus of an intense public debate after the Nov. 14 shootings. Many supporters praised him as a hero for using deadly force to protect property, while others dismissed him as a killer who should have heeded a 911 operator's instructions to stay in his house and wait for police.

Horn called authorities after hearing breaking glass and seeing two men climb through a window into his next-door neighbor's home in the 7400 block of Timberline.

The 911 operator urged Horn to remain inside, but he went outside with his 12-gauge shotgun and came face-to-face with Diego Ortiz, 30, and Hernando Riascos Torres, 38.

According to a transcript of Horn's 911 call, which he made about 2 p.m., the operator repeatedly urged Horn to stay in his house, but Horn said he did not believe it would be right to let the burglars get away.

"Well, here it goes, buddy," Horn can be heard telling the operator. "You hear the shotgun clicking and I'm going."

The operator replies: "Don't go outside."

Then the tape records Horn warning someone: "Move and you're dead!" Two quick shots can be heard, followed by a pause and then a third shot.

Pasadena police Capt. A.H. "Bud" Corbett said a few weeks after the shooting that a plainclothes detective had parked in front of Horn's house in response to the 911 call. He said the detective saw the men between Horn's house and his neighbor's before they crossed into Horn's front yard.

It appeared that neither Horn nor the men knew a police officer was present, Corbett said.

"It was over within seconds. The detective never had time to say anything before the shots were fired," Corbett said. "At first, the officer was assessing the situation. Then he was worried Horn might mistake him for the 'wheel man' (getaway driver). He ducked at one point."

When Horn confronted the suspects in his yard, he raised his shotgun to his shoulder, Corbett said. However the men ignored his order to freeze.

Corbett said one man ran toward Horn, but had angled away from him toward the street when he was shot in the back just before reaching the curb.

"The detective confirmed that this suspect was actually closer to Horn after he initiated his run than at the time when first confronted," said Corbett. "Horn said he felt in jeopardy."

Ortiz and Torres died a short distance from Horn's house, both shot in the back.

As the grand jury began hearing evidence in the case this month, Horn's attorney, Tom Lambright, said recently that Horn regrets his decision to confront the men.

"Was it a mistake from a legal standpoint? No. But a mistake in his life? Yes," Lambright said. "Because it's affected him terribly. And if he had it to do over again, he would stay inside.

"I don't think anybody can really appreciate the magnitude that something like this has on a person's personality."

Lambright said Horn didn't expect to be involved in a shooting, but rather expected to see the two men running or driving away.

"He thought he was gathering evidence for the police department," Lambright said.

The shooting brought hundreds of protesters to the Village Grove East subdivision where Horn lives with his daughter and her family. One protest included supporters of Houston activist Quanell X and motorcyclists countering his remarks. The protest which brought hundreds to the neighborhood led to the Pasadena City Council to approve a city ordinance banning protests in front of a residential home.

Aside from the shooting itself, the national debate revolved around the fact that Ortiz and Torres were illegal immigrants from Colombia. Torres had been sent to prison for dealing cocaine and was deported in 1999.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5864151.html
 

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9/11 tape asking for help...forced to dust two thiefs.

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I think he may have been too aggressive. I'm not sure the crime warranted death.
 

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I think he may have been too aggressive. I'm not sure the crime warranted death.

true, but if it had been his home would have definalty warranted shooting 2 unarmed men in the back...what does a few ft matter...not to mention they were 2 GROWN MEN commiting BURGULARY in BROAD DAY LIGHT...if consequences dont run thru ur mind doing something like that, u deserve what u get
 

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One thing you can be sure of is no one in their right mind will attempt to rob his or his neighbors home again.


He should post a neighborhood watch sign

"beware of crazy old man with shot gun"

maybe with symbols for the number of victims, kinda like the pilots used to do.
 

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I think he may have been too aggressive. I'm not sure the crime warranted death.

I agree. I thought it was damning of him to say he was going to kill them before he even went outside.

But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt before I will the other people.

In the long run, these type of people save lives. Burglars and innocents.
 

Uno

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how has this thread dodged all of the stupid looney liberals so far?

freaking Joe Horn for president.
 

They're still scrapin him off my stucco.
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He didn't shoot first. He told them to freeze first. Not sure what the issue is.

Jail and deportation obviously wasn't a deterrent to crime for these guys. A shotgun still is. Glad to see some things haven't changed.
 

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He should post a neighborhood watch sign

"beware of crazy old man with shot gun"

maybe with symbols for the number of victims, kinda like the pilots used to do.

All kidding aside, I'd take this guy as my neighbor any day.
 

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the point was he wasn't defending himself. he wasn't in danger to use that kind of force. when the police do these kind of things they r held accountable. IMO, at least shoot em in the legs or something. they were running away. it was a cowardly act. no hero here.
 

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the point was he wasn't defending himself. he wasn't in danger to use that kind of force. when the police do these kind of things they r held accountable. IMO, at least shoot em in the legs or something. they were running away. it was a cowardly act. no hero here.

No...if you read the article. There was an undercover cop in front of the house that witnessed the whole thing.

The perps came toward Joe in his yard.

After the cop witnessed all this...he went back to hiding in his car.

He had to "assess" the situation you know.

Cops don't protect us...they come to write up the report after shit happens.

This all could have been avoided with proper 911 response. That guy was on the phone a long time.
 

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didn't the cop duck down?

what r u saying no to? the victim was shot in the back.
 

Virtus Junxit Mors Non Separabit
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cop does nothing, 911 operator tells Mr Horn, do nothing

end result, insurance premiums go up, property values go down

sounds awesome
 

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He should post a neighborhood watch sign

"beware of crazy old man with shot gun"

maybe with symbols for the number of victims, kinda like the pilots used to do.
Trouble is, most thieves can't read it when their commiting their dirty deeds at night... Maybe if he had a big bright neon sign on top of his house with a picture of an old man shooting a homeboy in the back with a skull and bones below it they would get the idea....Then again, maybe not.
 

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the 911 operator told him to stay in his house.

that was wrong?

911 operators have no authority. Most of them, from the tapes I've heard ,would be better working the register at the 711.

Who cares what he said?
 

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