Terence Ellies: Texas man fatally shoots armed burglar who held his two kids at gunpoint during home invasion
PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS: A homeowner in Texas has reportedly fatally shot a suspect in an alleged armed home invasion, according to police authorities. The suspect, along with two others, had held the homeowner's two young children at gunpoint. The Port Arthur Police were able to identify the dead suspect as 27-year-old Terence Ellies as the Justice of the Peace Tom Gilliam III ordered an autopsy to be conducted.
The police revealed that the owner of the home had shot the suspect after he had barged into their home with two other suspects who were armed, according to a KBTV report. The incident had occurred at a residence located on the 2500 block of 18th Street.
The 29-year-old homeowner is reportedly unidentified and had armed himself with a rifle and had fired several shots in order to keep his family safe and secure. Authorities shared that suspect Terence Ellies died on the spot.
The other two suspects fled from the scene of the crime and the police are on the lookout for the pair. No one else was injured at the home. According to the PAPD, officers had responded to a home invasion type robbery with a shooting call on Sunday, December 27, at around 8.30 pm.
The preliminary investigation reveals that three armed suspects had broken into the home as a female resident was arriving home. The commotion and noise led to a male resident arming himself and confronting the robbers as they held his children at gunpoint.
The incident is under investigation by the Port Arthur Police Departments Major Crime Team. According to WWLTV, the motive behind the crime is currently unknown and authorities believe that the house had been targeted by the suspects.
Officials believe that the homeowner and the suspects know each other. The mother of the two children inside the house said that the two kids are very shaken up by the incident. She spoke to 12News and said that her five-year-old son is still upset after the suspects pointed a gun at the child.
Many social media users took to Facebook to comment on the news. One such user shared, "Glad he thought someone's stuff was worth dying for. Mouth breather." Another user commented, "Case isn't closed 2 others at large. They posted his pic so someone can figure out who was hanging with him or who he was last seen with to figure out who might of been with him committing this crime. They post pictures of whoever commits crimes and gets killed regardless of race. Just like they just did with the White man that blew up himself and his RV in Nashville on Christmas day."
"What is all the arguing about???? The man got in the house, held a woman and SMALL CHILDREN at gun point!!! He was killed because of that! No matter what color, he was the cause of his death! Had it been our house I/ we would do the same thing!" shared yet another user.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (409) 833-TIPS.