A 17-year old boy is dead after he was fatally shot by a homeowner for refusing to leave his property.

69-year old Dwayne Austgen confronted the teenager when he noticed the boy in his front yard of his Harris County home and told him to leave. After the teen left, Austgen found a crack cocaine pipe that the boy had left and took it home with him.

A short time later, the 17-year-old Vidal Herrera came back and asked about the crack pipe. Austgen ordered the teen to leave again but instead of leaving, Herrera walked towards the man. Austgen pointed his rifle and fired, hitting Herrera in the abdomen. The teen was taken to the hospital where he died.

Neighbors say that there had been a rash of burglaries in the past four months and worry that the burglars might become violent. Neighbors have also complained about Herrera and his friends for years, saying the teens have vandalized the area and robbed them.