A suspected burglar shot by a Kingsland resident, who claimed he was protecting the property of a neighbor as well as himself, died early Monday.

Casey Rowe, 25, died in a Lubbock rehabilitation facility, according to a report by the Llano County Sheriff’s Office.

Tommy Hardy Oakes, 64,told officers shortly after the July 30 shooting, that he was defending his life when he fired several shots at Rowe and two other men, Matthew Robert Winger and James Michael Jeffers, inside a moving car.

One bullet from Oakes’ .45 cal. pistol struck Rowe in the back of the neck, lodging against his spinal cord. He was first taken to University Medical Center at Austin’s Brackenridge Hospital.

Oakes was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. While the Llano County Sheriff’s Office stated that it does not believe Rowe’s death will change the charge, District Attorney Sam Oatman was unavailable for comment.

However, the case is expected to be presented to the grand jury early this month.

Rowe, who lived in Granite Shoals was left in front of the Llano Memorial Emergency Medical Service station on RR1431. Occupants of the car that left him lying out in front of the ambulance station sped away in a black Honda as a Llano County Sheriff’s deputy arrived almost simultaneously.

The two men eluded pursuit after turning on to RR 3404, the road that becomes CR 307, Slab Road, as it crosses the Llano River.

The victim was dead at the scene but was successfully resuscitated before he was rushed to Llano Memorial Hospital and airlifted Austin.

Oakes, who turned himself in to authorities one week after the shooting, is currently out on a $15,000 bond, that was set by Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Brian Alexander.