The teenage son of a Harris County deputy constable opened fire with his father's automatic rifle Tuesday after burglars forced their way into the family's home, authorities said.

The boy, 15, and his sister, 12, were alone about 2:30 p.m. when they heard glass breaking downstairs at the home in the 2600 block of Royal Place Court in northwest Harris County.

The boy went downstairs with the rifle and spotted the two burglars in the living room.

He fired several shots and struck one of the intruders, said Lt. Jeff Stauber with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

"He was concerned with protecting his younger sister — that's exactly what he did,“ Stauber said.

The suspect who was shot -- identified as Kinzy Evans, 17, -- was struck several times by gunfire. Police said his accomplice was a 16-year-old who they would not identify because he is a juvenile.

Sheriff's investigators were tipped off when the suspected burglars quickly showed up at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital.

"Anytime you get a gunshot victim in the hospital, they're going to notify law enforcement," Stauber said.

Evans was taken by Life Flight helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center in unknown condition.

Deputies brought the juvenile back to the brick home at the end of a cul-de-sac for additional questioning.

Sheriff's deputies said the burglars came into the house after breaking out a window in the living room area.

"They left the same way they came in - through the broken window," Stauber said.

'A little shaken up'

Family members at the scene declined to comment about the incident.

"The main thing is that the kids are OK. They're a little shaken up," said a man who identified himself as the deputy constable's brother.

Neighbors said several homes in the area also have been broken into during the daylight hours.

"There have been a lot of robberies. It's good that they caught them," said Ushantha Kawmini, whose home down the street was burglarized about a month ago.

Break-in concerns

Another neighbor was concerned that the burglars would be brazen enough to break into a home belonging to a law enforcement officer.

"Now they're doing it to the police officers. What about regular people?" said the neighbor.

She identified herself only as Mary because she feared retaliation from other burglars.

"I'm sure they (the suspects) have got friends," the neighbor said.

The two have been charged with burglary of a habitation, officials said.

mike.glenn@chron.com