Texas.
If I'm not mistaken, you can indeed use deadly force to protect your property, and even your neighbor's property.
Was it nighttime?
2 AM.
I guess so.
http://nation.time.com/2013/06/13/when-you-can-kill-in-texas/
https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/penal-code/penal-sect-9-42.html
That's quite unusual. I think more states need to adopt that.
Texas isn't perfect, but when it comes to how the law views criminals vs. law abiding citizens they are one of the better states to live in.
I have no problem whatsoever with criminals, especially armed criminals fearing for their safety or even for their lives when they fuck with law abiding citizens.
I don't disagree with you. But the law does. It's illegal to:
Kill to prevent theft
Run back into the situation knowing that it would lead to you attempting to kill someone.
The only time he would have been justified in killing them (legally) is when they tried to run him over.