He fought two of them': Father's praise for Australian man shot dead in Texas home invasion
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Brenton Estorffe's father speaks
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The Australian man shot dead during a home invasion in Texas died a hero trying to save his family, his heartbroken father said today.
Brenton Estorffe, 29, originally from the Sunshine Coast, was killed when he confronted two people who broke through a window at his home in the US state at around midnight on Wednesday.
Mr Estorffe was fatally shot as his American wife Angeleanna and two young children Asher and Eliana slept upstairs in their Fort Bend County home near Houston.
Mr Estorffe's devastated father, Mike, told 9News he and his wife couldn't believe it when they were given the tragic news.
"He was the one that fought off the intruders, he fought two of them away to protect his wife and kids and unfortunately he passed away doing it," he said.
He described his son as "a cheeky, smart, intelligent, honest, sincere person".
"That's one of the things you try and instil in your kids, the things important in life. And important for him in life was his family, and that's what he protected."
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The family was making arrangements to travel to the US as soon as possible.
Estorffe moved to the US in 2011 to follow his dream of playing in the National Football League, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
He is the third Australian to be fatally shot in the US in two years.
Neighbours described running to the home after hearing gunshots.
Police are examining CCTV footage which may help identify the suspects.
"It's sad, sad," Fort Bend Sheriff Troy Nehls said.
"We have a homeowner here in Fort Bend County who's no longer with us. A father of two small children, breaks your heart."
Fort Bend Sheriff Troy Nehls told local media the shooting had happened extremely quickly and the two suspects immediately fled the home which was decorated for Halloween.
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*Update* The name of the Homicide victim is Brenton Estorffe, 29. We do not have any photos of a vehicle or a description to release at this time.
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He said it appeared Mr Estorffe was not armed.
It is believed Mr Estorffe called police just before his death.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office received a call just after midnight from the homeowner stating that someone had broken a window in the back of his home at Glen Rosa Drive, officers told the Houston Chronicle.
On Facebook, Mr Estorffe's brother Cobin, who also lives in Texas, expressed the family's grief.
"Still not real brother," Cobin Estorffe wrote.
"Life will never ever be the same without you. Hands down you are my hero the way you stood up for your family," the post said. "Can only dream to be a little bit like you.
"Thanks for the amazing times we had together. Miss you and love you so much Brenton."
Neighbour Kimberly Patel told KHOU 11 she recently met the family for the first time when they moved to the Seven Meadows suburb of Fort Bend County.
"I can't even imagine what the wife is going though right now," Ms Patel said.
She said there are issues in the area from time to time, but she'd never expected anything like this.
"We've left our doors unlocked because we feel this is such a quiet neighbourhood," Ms Patel said.
"So it's pretty shocking to be honest."
Estorffe reportedly moved to the US in 2011 to play American football and study at South Virginia University.
He had been working at a rental car company in Texas.
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