Police in Texas say they will stop at nothing to find the killers of an Australian man who was shot dead while confronting a pair of home invaders.

Investigators in Katy, Texas outside Houston believe the 29-year old Brenton Estorffe heard the sound of breaking glass, and went to find out what was going on in his home while his wife and two children slept.  One of two intruders opened fire, killing Mr. Estorffe.  They both fled, apparently without taking anything.

"Most individuals who want to commit a burglary do it when people are not at home, when they are working," said Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls.  "These individuals pulled in there around midnight, broke glass into the back of the house and then, you know - I don't think they were there to commit a burglary."

The Sheriff continued, "I don't know what their motive was but what I do know is this: they made some very poor decisions.  They took a young man's life."

Estorffe's wife got a look at the two intruders before they left.  She was not hurt, nor were the couple's two children aged 1 and 3 years.

"It's sad, sad.  We have a homeowner here in Fort Bend County who's no longer with us.  A father of two small children, breaks your heart," Nehls said.  "Pray for this young wife and her two small children because they are without their father.  He was there to protect his family."

The ABC reports that Brenton Estorffe was from Queensland and moved to Virginia, USA during high school.  He later attended Southern Virginia University.