Police: Homeowner shoots and kills burglar
PALMVIEW – Palmview police confirmed that a homeowner shot and killed a burglar breaking through his a window of his house in the 2200 block of Flor Lane early Wednesday morning.
Police Chief Chris Barrera confirmed that the homeowner is Daniel Garza, the director of facilities for the La Joya Independent School District. The intruder was Ruben Beltran, a 41-year-old from Reynosa. Beltran, who police say was unarmed, later died at McAllen Medical Center.
On Wednesday, police were not certain if the burglar had actually been shot or had bled to death from injuries caused by breaking through the window, said Palmview Cmdr. Lenny Sanchez. The preliminary autopsy results showed that Beltran sustained gunshot wounds to the wrist and abdomen.
Garza’s wife and two children also were home at the time.
In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed legislation based on the common-law principle known as the “castle doctrine.” The law protects private citizens from criminal prosecution and civil liability if they use deadly force on an intruder who threatened their vehicle, home or business.
Previously the law only protected people who used such force in their home if they could not escape the situation.
The Palmview Police Department has forwarded the case to the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office. No charges have been filed.
No one answered the door Thursday afternoon at Garza’s home. Neighbors said there have been a few break-ins, but it is generally a quiet neighborhood.
Neighbor Juan Perez said burglars broke into his house two or three years ago when he was out of town, but alarms scared them away. He said Garza is a good man.
“He protected the family,” Perez said.
Sylvia Cruz said she’s lived in the neighborhood for 20 years and has never had problems, but thieves did steal a neighbor’s washer and dryer a few years ago. She said her family is especially careful because burglaries increase during the holidays.
“Being the Christmas season, a lot of people are short on cash,” she said.
She was surprised to find out that the burglary happened so close to her home. She said she tried to picture what she would have done in Garza’s place, but noted that she couldn’t know without being in that situation.
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Monitor Staff Writer Naxiely Lopez contributed to this report
