Edinburg mother shoots burglar after locking herself, children in bedroom

A woman locked herself in a bedroom with her children when a 36-year-old man broke into her house Tuesday night.

She then warned Carlos Garcia, the alleged intruder, that she had called police and that she was armed.

Garcia refused to leave, so she shot once through the door and hit him in the arm, according to a news release from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.

Garcia then fled the home. 

Authorities said the incident happened at 9:13 p.m. in the 5500 block of Nardo Street, which is north of Rogers Road and 10th Street in rural Edinburg.

Garcia, who had broken into the house through the garage and tried to get into the bedroom where the woman was with her children, was found approximately 100 yards away from the house in an open field with a gunshot wound to his left arm, according to the release.

Deputies found him with the assistance of air support from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Garcia, an Edinburg resident, was charged with burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another felony.

As of Wednesday morning, a bond had not been set on the charge, according to jail records.

The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing and encouraged any witnesses with additional information to come forward.

Anyone with information should call the sheriff’s office at (956) 383-8114.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers at (956)-668-TIPS (8477). Anonymous tipsters can also provide information through the smartphone application P3 TIPS.