A 56-year-old man died Saturday in Houston, Texas, after trying to recover a pickup truck that had allegedly been stolen hours earlier. Authorities charged London Hogan Sr., a repeat offender who was on parole, with the victim's murder.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office informed FOX26 that the victim, identified as Louis Erebia, was able to locate the stolen vehicle using a GPS tracking system. According to the investigation, the robbery occurred when Erebia's son was fueling a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and the suspect allegedly threatened him with a gun before taking the vehicle.

After learning of the theft, Erebia and a friend used the tracking system to follow the van's route. The authorities indicated that both managed to locate the vehicle in circulation and headed to the scene.

Chase and shootout

According to the official version, the car driven by Erebia was involved in a collision with the stolen Chevrolet Silverado, which caused the truck to become disabled.

After the crash, a man and a woman got out of the vehicle and tried to flee. Investigators said Erebia chased the suspects, at which point Hogan allegedly opened fire multiple times.

Erebia was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. A second person was also wounded by gunfire, although authorities indicated he is expected to survive.

London Hogan Sr. faces charges of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.

During a hearing on Monday, a judge recalled that the defendant was on deferred probation for a previous case of domestic violence.

According to court records cited by authorities, Hogan had previously been prosecuted for various crimes, including possession of controlled substances, robbery and assault on a family member.

“He died protecting others”

Erebia's relatives described him as a person dedicated to serving others.

Amber Burrough, a relative of the victim, said in a social media post that Erebia lost her life “too soon.”

"Louis died doing exactly what he did every day of his life: protecting others. He was a hero until his last breath," he wrote.

He also defined him as “a pillar of the community” and “the backbone of the family,” highlighting his constant willingness to help those who needed it.

Authorities continue to investigate the case while Hogan remains in custody and faces judicial proceedings for the charges brought against him.