Following an early morning break-in Saturday, a 26-year-old man was found dead inside a north Austin apartment after he came face to face with the resident who was armed with a handgun.
Police responded to a 911 call around 1 a.m. According to local media, the resident, whose name has not been released, retrieved a handgun but stayed in his bedroom when he was awakened by the sound of breaking glass.
Moments later, an armed intruder was in the man’s bedroom, pointing a gun at him and demanding that he get on the ground. But instead of complying, the resident grasped his gun and fired at the suspect, hitting him an unknown number of times.
When police arrived on the scene, they found the suspect, who was later identified as Ray Anthony Arredondo, deceased as the result of an apparent gunshot wound, which an autopsy later confirmed.
Witnesses say a second black male was seen fleeing the area, but authorities have not confirmed this.
Detectives said evidence at the scene appeared to corroborate the resident’s account of what happened and they believe Arredondo intended to rob the tenant, although there was no evidence that any other apartments in the complex had been targeted.
The case is still open and once the investigation is completed, it will be forwarded to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office for review. However, Sgt. Brian Miller of the Austin Police Department’s Homicide Unit told the Statesman that the initial investigation indicates that the shooting was justified and it appeared to be a clear cut case of self-defense. Miller added that the state’s Castle Doctrine laws will likely protect the resident from any charges.
“He has the right to defend his homestead,” Miller explained.
Miller also said the tenant has been fully cooperative with investigators and there is no known connection between the tenant and Arredondo at this time.
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