Man kills his father to defend his mother, deputies say

HOUSTON (Fox 26) - A domestic dispute turned deadly when a man fatally shot his father on Tuesday afternoon in East Harris County.

The Harris County Sheriff's Department says Jorge Torre, 47, was dead inside his home in the 16900 block of Woodburn Drive in the Sheldon Woods subdivision when deputies arrived. They add the son grabbed a gun when the father threatened to kill him and his mother and it appears the son was trying to defend his mother. 

"My reaction is always sympathetic to anyone who is a victim and that includes, obviously, the person who thought it was appropriate to intervene in this way," said Maisha Colter with the Houston non-profit, Aid to Victim's of Domestic Abuse (AVDA). 

Colter works with families experiencing domestic violence both as an attorney and a social worker.

"Studies have shown that children who witness domestic abuse can suffer from depression, PTSD," she added.

Colter says the children may feel hopeless, overwhelmed, and angry.

"Obviously, if [the children have] seen violence then violence might be what they see as a resource to control and to stop certain behavior," Colter explained.

Colter says it’s important for children in homes plagued by domestic abuse to learn about healthy relationships and find someone to talk to, whether that’s a school counselor or through organizations like AVDA.

"That’s the most important thing to do is to reach out and say something about what is happening in their home," Colter concluded.

The Harris County Sheriff Department says it appears the son was defending his mother, but the case will be presented to a Harris County Grand Jury once the investigation is complete.

The case involving Torre will be presented to a Harris County Grand Jury when the investigation is complete.

If anyone has any information on this case, they are asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100.