Deadly shooting in southwest Houston leaves a lot of questions

(3/15/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- A deadly shooting in southwest Houston over the weekend has two families at odds over what really happened.

One father says he was protecting his 13-year-old daughter, but the dead man's mother claims her son died for no reason.

"Who in their right mind is going to argue with a man with a shotgun in their hand," said Belisa Dove.

Belisa Dove is angry. She is questioning why her 27-year-old son, John, is dead. He was shot once outside a Fort Bend County townhome. An incident, she claims, began when her son called a phone chat line and spoke to what he thought was a 20-year-old woman.

"He did nothing but take a phone call, talk to someone on the phone and come to meet them that's all he did and that caused him his life," Dove said.

Police went to the home after the girl's mother reported two men inside the house and her 13-year-old daughter missing.

When they arrived, they found 27-year-old Dove dead. The mother claimed a second suspect shot him. A story she later admitted was made up.

"I should have just told them straight up that the man who ran around the corner with a gun was my husband," said the girl's mother.

Police would later learn the two people in the home were Dove and the 13-year-old girl. When the parents arrived, the two ran out of the house. That's when the girl's father went for his gun. Moments later, Dove would call the house, telling the mother he was going to return to get his car. When he arrived, the father says Dove became confrontational so he shot him.

"I felt that my life was in danger, my wife was in danger, my kids were in danger, I don't know this guy," said the girl's father.

Texas law is clear when homeowners can use lethal force. While our legal expert says this case may not fit the criteria since Dove was shot on a neighbor's property, a grand jury may see otherwise.

"A grand jury is going to have a lot of compassion for this man and they're not going to make him abide by the black letter rules of the law," said ABC 13 Legal Analyst Joel Androphy.

For Dove's family though, they say there are too many questions about the shooting. They are holding strong in their belief that the true victim is their loved one.

"He has a family that loves him," said his sister Monique Dove. "A lot of family and we're going to make sure justice is served."

The girl's parents deny, the 13-year-old had ever spoken with dove over the phone. They also claim dove attempted to assault the girl.

Houston police tell me the case is expected to be turned over to the Fort Bend County DA's office. They will decide if the case goes to a grand jury and whether charges will be filed.

There are some things teens need to know, before they chat either on the phone or online. They should be honest about their age. Membership rules are there to protect people. Also children should be as anonymous as possible so strangers can't find them. And avoid face to face meetings, unless they're sure of their actual identity.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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