UPDATE: AUGUST 6, 2024; 5:10 P.M.
The Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the intruder killed in a Southside break-in on July 28 as 48-year-old Lawrence W. Short.
UPDATE: JULY 30, 2024; 9:35 A.M.
Corpus Christi detectives have issued a warrant of arrest for 56-year-old Douglas Watters after he shot and killed an intruder who had allegedly broken into his home on July 28 on the city's Southside.
Police officers were dispatched to the 7000 block of Brandon Dr. in reference to a residential burglary. The responding officer stated that when he arrived at the home on Brandon Drive, it appeared to be "abandoned and without power."
"The homeowner called 911 and stated he shot an intruder who had broken into his home," said Corpus Christi Police Department Senior Officer Jennifer Collier.
According to an arrest report, the intruder who was fatally shot had a female with him, but she left the location before police arrived to the home on Brandon Dr.
Watters told a police officer that he believed that two intruders entered the home through a door that was covered with plywood. When officers asked Watters where the second intruder was, he stated, "I don't know where she is. I let her go."
Responding officers asked Watters if anyone was in the house, and he answered, "No, just the dead guy."
Investigators then located a deceased 48-year-old male in a back room of the house, who appeared to have been "deceased for some time," according to the arrest report. A responding police officer stated in the police report, "he knew this to be true by the paleness of the skin and rigor mortis had started to set in as his right hand was stiff and held up in the air."
Investigators believe the deceased male had died approximately four hours before or possibly longer before Watters called 911.
According to a responding police officer in the arrest report, "Douglas Watters stated that we (officers) took our time getting to the residence."
The responding officer added, "It should be known that from the time the call came out to the time officers arrived, was approximately 13 minutes from Bravo District."
Investigators collected two shotgun shell casings from the crime scene. Watters was then transported to the Corpus Christi Police Department, where he declined to speak with detectives.
Officials obtained a warrant for murder for the homeowner, Douglas Watters, just one day after the fatal shooting. Watters bond is set at $500,000 and this is still an active and ongoing investigation, police say.
"At approximately 8:55 p.m. on Monday night, Corpus Christi Police Department Gang Officers took Watters into custody at the 3600 block of La Paz Drive. He was transported to the City Detention Center for booking," added Officer Collier.
If you have any information pertaining to this incident, you are encouraged to call the Corpus Christi Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 361-886-2840. Anyone who would like to keep their identity secret and still provide information to detectives should call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or submit the tip online at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=343&C=&T=. .
ORIGINAL: JULY 28, 2024; 3:13 P.M.
Corpus Christi Police are investigating after a homeowner shot and killed an intruder at his home on Sunday morning around 7:51 a.m.
CCPD told KRIS 6 News that the shooting happened on the 7000 block of Brandon Drive. That's inside the Buckingham Estates subdivision off Yorktown Blvd and South Staples Street on Corpus Christi's south side.
Police said just before 8 a.m., they got a call from the homeowner, who said he shot an intruder who had broken into his home. When officers arrived, they found the man dead inside the home.
The homeowner is cooperating with investigators. No one else was hurt.
For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App.
