Police: Teen slain by Harris County homeowner Officials: Harris man fatally shoots teen at home

A homeowner who had twice ordered a teenager to leave the property — once while holding a rifle — shot the teen dead after the boy refused to leave and walked toward him, authorities said.

“He feared for his life,” said Harris County sheriff’s Lt. Rolf Nelson.

Dwayne Austgen, 69, was inside his north Harris County home in the 5500 block of Susanna around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday when he noticed a teenager in his front yard, officials said. The man went outside, confronted 17-year-old Vidal Herrera, and told him to leave, authorities said.

After the teen left the property, Austgen noticed Herrera had left a crack cocaine pipe, officials said. Austgen then went back inside his home, taking the pipe with him, officials said.

A short while later, Herrera returned to the home, confronted Austgen about the pipe, and the pair argued, officials said. Austgen, this time holding a rifle, again ordered the teen to leave, officials said.

Herrera began to walk away but then approached the homeowner, who fired the .22-caliber rifle, striking the teen in the abdomen, officials said. Herrera was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he died.

The case will be referred to a Harris County grand jury without charges.

Austgen could not be reached for comment.

Anxious neighborhood

Neighbors described him as a grandfather-type who works hard and has a shop housing construction equipment on his property.

The shooting aggravated an already anxious neighborhood. Residents in the rural cluster of tidy homes and trailers said that over the past four months, burglars have taken all-terrain vehicles, tools, bicycles, and navigation and stereo equipment.

Janie Witcher, who lives a few doors down, said she and other neighbors have been nervous for their safety since the rash of crimes, worried the burglars might become violent.

Burglars hit her home and vehicles, Witcher said, adding that she might be the only resident to report a break-in.

“It’s like an invitation for them to come back,” she said.

Witcher said another neighbor pulled a shotgun on a burglar about three months ago and had a difficult time scaring him away.

“I’ve had my kids sleeping in my room,” she said. “My son is constantly looking out the window.”

Her son, Kyle, has been sleeping with a baseball bat for weeks and plans to keep it that way for a while.

paige.hewitt@chron.com