A pre-dawn break-in at a west Fort Worth home ended with gunfire and a trip to jail, as police say a 45-year-old man, identified as Gary Goff, was shot and then arrested yesterday. Officers responding to the scene found someone inside the house with a gunshot wound, and that person was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Fort Worth police say Goff now faces a burglary of a habitation charge.
Police response and arrest
According to police call records, several Fort Worth units rolled out around 4:35 a.m. to the 4900 block of Cedar Hill Road. Officers on scene identified the suspect as Goff, who was arrested and booked into the Fort Worth City Jail on a burglary of a habitation charge.
Inside the home, officers also discovered an individual who had been shot. Investigators have not said who pulled the trigger or how the injured person is connected to the reported break-in, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
What the charge means
Under Texas law, burglary of a habitation applies when someone enters a residence without effective consent with the intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault. The offense is charged under Texas Penal Code §30.02 and can be treated as a second- or first-degree felony depending on the details of the case, with potential penalties that include years in prison and fines.
Prosecutors will sort out the exact charge after investigators complete their work and submit the case file. The statute is outlined in Texas Penal Code §30.02.
Investigation ongoing
Fort Worth police have notified the department's gun-violence detectives, who are continuing to piece together what happened inside the house. Authorities have not released the name of the person who was shot and have not said whether anyone else was involved in the incident.
Goff remained in custody as of yesterday afternoon, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
