
A Houston father was shot to death yesterday morning in a brutal home invasion while his wife and small children were forced to hunkered down nearby. According to the Houston Chronicle, three men wearing ski masks entered the residence located on the 5300 block of Castlecreek Lane around 2:30 a.m., The 36-year-old man, whose name has not been released, instructed his wife to quickly take cover with their children before being fatally shot in the hallway of their home.
Investigators discovered multiple shell casings at the scene, suggesting the use of two different firearms in the execution of the crime. "It's very traumatic for the wife and kids. It's a situation no one ever wants to be in. It's very senseless at this point. We think it's an isolated event. There's no reason for anybody else in the area to be concerned," Detective David Higgs with HPD said, as reported by ABC13. Despite the disturbance caused by the intrusion and the violent act, no belongings appeared to have been taken from the house.
According to HPD officials, the family is understandably distraught, and the wife and children were unharmed physically. The victims' family asked for privacy and did not wish to release his identity at the time, as relatives in Cuba have yet to be notified of the tragedy. A young woman identified as the victim's stepdaughter told ABC13 that she was not present during the shooting but confirmed that the man's 5-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son witnessed the murder.
The suspects remain at large and authorities are seeking assistance from locals — hoping to gather evidence from any residential security cameras that might have caught suspicious activity or the perpetrators on tape. Higgs additionally recommended that homeowners should install cameras for their protection and to immediately call 9-1-1 at the first sign of a break-in. Detectives at the HPD Homicide Division can be contacted with any relevant information at 713-308-3600, or anonymous tips can be reported to Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS, as noted by both ABC13 and the Houston Chronicle.