Houston Pastor Fatally Shot During Home Invasion

Houston, Texas – Pastor Pedro Cantu, 62, lead pastor of Iglesia Cristiana Amor y Restauración (Love and Restoration Church), was fatally shot during a home invasion at his residence on South Kirkwood Road on February 21, 2026. The incident, which occurred around 12:15 a.m., involved a burglary in progress and resulted in the death of Cantu and injuries to both the suspect and another resident of the home.

Details of the Incident

According to the Houston Police Department (HPD), officers responded to a burglary call at 1233 South Kirkwood Road and heard gunshots upon arrival [1]. Upon entering the residence, officers found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. Cantu was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other injured individual, identified as the burglary suspect, sustained a superficial gunshot wound and was also hospitalized.

Accidental Shooting

Investigators determined that a 35-year-old male resident of the home, attempting to defend the residence against the intruder, fired a weapon. During the confrontation, he accidentally struck Cantu while shooting at the suspect [2]. The 35-year-old and Cantu were residents of the home.

Suspect Arrested

The suspected burglar, identified as Rodney Dushaw Yoder, 44, was arrested and charged with burglary of a habitation in the 209th Criminal District Court [1]. Yoder’s booking photo has been released by the HPD.

Community Mourns Pastor Cantu

Pedro Cantu was a beloved figure in the Houston community, serving as the lead pastor of Amor y Restauración church. Church members described him as a leader and expressed shock at his death [2]. He and his wife, Leticia, had been serving the community since 1991, starting with tiny worship gatherings and Bible studies before formally establishing the church [3].

Ongoing Investigation

The HPD Homicide Division is continuing to investigate the shooting incident. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact them at 713-308-3600 [1]. It remains unclear if the attempted burglary was targeted or random and nothing was reported stolen from the home [2].

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.