Quote: A man with a lengthy criminal history is dead after he tried to break into a Van Zandt County, Texas, home early Tuesday morning and was shot by the homeowner.

Police received a call from the homeowner around 4:30 a.m., according to a report from a local ABC affiliate, and she told them she had shot the man as he tried to force his way inside through a side door.

When law enforcement arrived at the home, they found 37-year-old Christopher Ray Foster and pronounced him dead.

Authorities confirmed that Foster had a lengthy criminal history and had recently spent time in jail after failing to register as a sex offender, before he was released on a personal recognizance bond. According to records with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Foster, who was considered a moderate threat level offender, was charged with sexual assault of a 15-year-old in 1999.[…]

Van Zandt County Sheriff Michael Lindsey Ray felt the woman acted appropriately when she opened fire on Foster.

“Presently, as the result of underfunding and inadequate staffing at the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, homeowners need to take appropriate precautions to protect their families,” Ray said. “I will continue to support the law abiding citizens of our community when they are forced to take actions to protect their lives, liberty and property.”