ODESSA, TX (KWES) - Over the weekend, two would-be burglars were shot at by a homeowner on the 6500 block of East Ridge Rd. early Sunday morning.
The residents noticed the suspects trying to get in their home when they saw their door knob moving. The suspects couldn't get in so they decided to take some items from the outside.
"They looked outside and they could see two male suspects, stealing items from their backyard," said Cpl. Steve LeSueur of the Odessa Police Department.
The resident confronted the suspects and they got away, while being shot at. Police said one homeowner shot multiple rounds at the suspects.
Texas law allows residents to use deadly force at night if they have no other options to keep their belongings.
"If you reasonably believe there is no other way to protect your property then you can use deadly force," said Ector County District Attorney, Bobby Bland.
You can still protect your home the same if someone breaks in at night or daytime, but in this instance, items were stolen outside of the home, so each theft is looked at on a case by case basis.
"If someone's coming on your property in daytime and they are causing damage to your property, you can't use deadly force in that situation in the same way you can at night," said Bland
The suspects got away with cooking stand, a burner, a propane tank and a cooler of beer. Police say they don't know if either suspect was shot while they fled in a 2005 or 2009 dark colored Ford Mustang.
