Resident shoots suspected burglar in northeast Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A homeowner fought back when a suspect allegedly broke into his northeast Houston home early this morning, opening fire on the intruder.

It happened around 3am on the home off Melbourne near the Eastex Freeway.

The man says he woke and heard a noise in another part of the house. He walked outside to investigate and walked around the house with a flashlight. He didn't see anything at first, but when he shined the light upstairs, he saw his window air conditioner unit moving, and figured someone was inside.

At that point he says he went to get his handgun and slowly walked upstairs.

"I observed this man was trying to remove the window unit out of the window. And he stopped after he heard me and he turned around and I shot him one time," said resident Johnny Thompson.

The intruder was taken to a nearby hospital. Police didn't know the suspect's condition, saying only that he was in surgery.

As for the man who shot him, officers say they do not think he'll face any charges, that it appears he was defending his home.

Find Simon on Facebook at ABC13SimonGutierrez or on Twitter at @sggutierrez