Widow of suspected burglar speaks about her husband's death

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Laura Whitley
More: Bio, abc13.com News Team

(11/16/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- You've heard the 911 call as a Pasadena man used deadly force to protect his neighbor's property. Now, the part of the story you haven't heard. The wife of one of the two men shot reacts to the killing that took away her young child's father.

Two deaths caught on tape, many more lives wrecked. We're hearing the human side to the tragedy that's been playing out for days.

When tiny Diego Ortiz, Jr., took the picture you see to the right with his father, he was just a days old. The baby is now eight months. He will never take another picture with his dad again. Diego Ortiz, Sr., died this week.

"I wish that he could have made it," sobbed Ortiz's widow, Diamond Morgan.

He was one of two suspected burglars a Pasadena man killed. After the break in, a neighbor, Joe Horn, stopped Ortiz and Miguel de Jesus with his shotgun. The incident was recorded during a 911 call. The chilling tape leaves Morgan stunned.

"It's horrible," said Morgan. "He was so eager, so eager to shoot."

Horn's lawyer says that couldn't be further from the truth.

"When he was in my office yesterday, he was crying uncontrollably," said Horn's attorney, Tom Lambright.

Lambright says devastated doesn't even begin to describe the 61-year-old, that he only fired because he feared for his life. When Horn went outside, Lambright says, the men were on Horn's property about 15 feet from his front door.

"He didn't know what they were gonna do, but he was petrified at that point," said Lambright.

"If you were afraid for your life, then why the hell did you come outside," said Morgan.

Morgan admits Ortiz was doing something wrong, but she believes the punishment Ortiz, she and his young son received hardly outweighs the crime.

De Jesus had a criminal history and was on parole when he was killed. In a statement read by his lawyer, Horn said his thoughts go out to the loved ones of the deceased. The police investigation continues and Horn has not been arrested or charged with any crime.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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