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Brenton Estorffe murder: photo of possible getaway car released after Australian man's death Brenton Estorffe murder: photo of possible getaway car released after Australian man's death
(32 minutes later)
Sheriffs hunting the intruders who broke into Australian man Brenton Estorffe’s Texas home and shot him dead have released a surveillance photo of a possible getaway car.Sheriffs hunting the intruders who broke into Australian man Brenton Estorffe’s Texas home and shot him dead have released a surveillance photo of a possible getaway car.
Fort Bend County sheriff Troy Nehls also gave descriptions on Friday of the two men who police say smashed a glass window just after midnight on Wednesday at the rear of Estorffe’s home in the quiet neighbourhood of Katy, near Houston.Fort Bend County sheriff Troy Nehls also gave descriptions on Friday of the two men who police say smashed a glass window just after midnight on Wednesday at the rear of Estorffe’s home in the quiet neighbourhood of Katy, near Houston.
Nehls and his investigative team say they are desperate to capture those behind the attack, which left Estorffe’s wife, Angeleanna, a widow and their one-year-old and three-year-old children without a father, shocking the community.Nehls and his investigative team say they are desperate to capture those behind the attack, which left Estorffe’s wife, Angeleanna, a widow and their one-year-old and three-year-old children without a father, shocking the community.
“They are going to pay for this,” Nehls told reporters at a press conference. “They came into the wrong community.”“They are going to pay for this,” Nehls told reporters at a press conference. “They came into the wrong community.”
The sheriff said there have been seven homicides in the county this year and six were solved.The sheriff said there have been seven homicides in the county this year and six were solved.
A photo of a light-coloured four-door sedan with what is believed to be a sunroof was captured on a residential surveillance camera just before the shooting, and was seen leaving just after shots were fired. Further analysis is under way to determine the car’s make and model.A photo of a light-coloured four-door sedan with what is believed to be a sunroof was captured on a residential surveillance camera just before the shooting, and was seen leaving just after shots were fired. Further analysis is under way to determine the car’s make and model.
Nehls described one intruder as five foot and 11 inches tall (180cm), of medium build and wearing a dark-coloured hoodie.Nehls described one intruder as five foot and 11 inches tall (180cm), of medium build and wearing a dark-coloured hoodie.
The second alleged intruder was described as six foot tall (182cm), of a slim build and with a buzz haircut.The second alleged intruder was described as six foot tall (182cm), of a slim build and with a buzz haircut.
A $US25,000 ($A36,500) reward has been offered for information leading to the men’s capture.A $US25,000 ($A36,500) reward has been offered for information leading to the men’s capture.
Nehls also raised the possibility of a third accomplice, possibly a getaway driver, or more offenders at the home.Nehls also raised the possibility of a third accomplice, possibly a getaway driver, or more offenders at the home.
Why the intruders targeted the Estorffes remains a mystery and investigators are considering if it was a case of mistaken identity. The family’s cars were in the driveway and the house had exterior Halloween decorations.Why the intruders targeted the Estorffes remains a mystery and investigators are considering if it was a case of mistaken identity. The family’s cars were in the driveway and the house had exterior Halloween decorations.
“Anybody would know there is obviously children in that house,” the sheriff said. “There’s Halloween decorations.“Anybody would know there is obviously children in that house,” the sheriff said. “There’s Halloween decorations.
“You could almost make the safe assumption these individuals knew someone was at home but they still had the audacity to break a window and enter the home.“You could almost make the safe assumption these individuals knew someone was at home but they still had the audacity to break a window and enter the home.
“That’s a little unusual.”“That’s a little unusual.”
The Estorffes only moved into the house six months ago and investigators are looking into who lived there previously to determine if the intruders mistakenly targeted the wrong people.The Estorffes only moved into the house six months ago and investigators are looking into who lived there previously to determine if the intruders mistakenly targeted the wrong people.
Nehls said it appeared the intruders made a hole in a fence to gain access to the rear of the house and in the darkness smashed a window to gain access. Estorffe confronted the men and was shot, police said.Nehls said it appeared the intruders made a hole in a fence to gain access to the rear of the house and in the darkness smashed a window to gain access. Estorffe confronted the men and was shot, police said.
Nehls praised Estorffe’s bravery.Nehls praised Estorffe’s bravery.
“He gave his life in defence of his family,” the sheriff said. “What more honour can you bestow on an individual than that.”“He gave his life in defence of his family,” the sheriff said. “What more honour can you bestow on an individual than that.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for Estorffe’s widow and children. The sheriff said his detectives were emotionally driven to solve the crime.
Estorffe, 29, was formerly from Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. He moved to the US in 2011 to play American football and study at South Virginia University. He had been working for the Enterprise car rental company in Texas.
Nehls said his detectives were emotionally driven to solve the crime.
“You have young detectives that have family of their own walk into a residence and see the pictures on the walls of a young father, pictures of his children,” he said. “You can see the love he has for his family.”“You have young detectives that have family of their own walk into a residence and see the pictures on the walls of a young father, pictures of his children,” he said. “You can see the love he has for his family.”
A GoFundMe page establish to assist Estorffe’s widow and children has raised more than $25,000 in a single day.
“At this time Angeleanna has been very distraught and trying to keep a brave face for their children,” friend Linzie Snow wrote. “They have been deprived of a great father and loving husband. No amount of preparation could have prepared them for this adversity.”
Estorffe, 29, originally from Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, moved to the US in 2011 to play American football and study at South Virginia University. He had been working for the Enterprise car rental company in Texas.
Estorffe is the third Australian to be shot and killed in North America in just over two years. In July, a Sydney man, Lucas Fowler, and his US girlfriend, Chynna Deese, were shot dead on a remote highway in northern British Columbia, Canada. Their teenaged killers were later found dead thousands of kilometres away, apparently having taken their own lives.
In July 2017 an Australian woman, Justine Damond, was shot dead by a Minneapolis police department officer Mohamed Noor, after she called 911 to report a suspected assault. Noor was convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter and sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison.
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