PAIGE HEWITT
Houston Chronicle
Reprinted with Permission

HOUSTON - A man angry about a noisy party opened fire on his Huffman-area neighbors early Sunday, killing a teacher, critically injuring a Houston fire captain and wounding a third man, police officers said.

Raul Rodriguez, 44, called authorities late Saturday about the noise at a gathering on his neighbor's 2-acre property in the 300 block of Oak Knoll. He arrived around 12:30 a.m. Sunday at the party with a handgun, flashlight and video camera.

“He got it in his head that they were making too much noise, and he decided to take it into his own hands,” Harris County homicide Sgt. Ben Beall said. “The people at the party were minding their own business.”

Rodriguez, who acknowledged shooting the men, was charged with murder. He told police the shooting was in self-defense because the men at the party rushed him. Rodriguez sustained a fracture to his ankle after being tackled by partygoers, authorities said.

“He had more than ample opportunity to retreat,” Beall added.

Kelly Danaher, 36, who was hosting a birthday party for his wife, was killed. He was a physical education teacher at Sorters Mill Elementary School in New Caney.

"New Caney ISD is shocked and deeply saddened over the tragic death of Kelly Danaher. He was a P.E. teacher at Sorters Mill Elementary, but to the faculty, staff and students at the school, he was a family member. His students loved him. Coworkers gravitated toward Danaher’s positive energy and encouragement," the district said today in a written statement. "

Senior HFD Capt. Ricky Johnson, 43, remains in critical condition today at Ben Taub General Hospital.

“He sustained a gunshot to his lower abdomen,” assistant fire chief Karen DuPont said.

“They're just waiting for him to stabilize so they can go back in and do surgery, and that might take a couple days,” DuPont said.

Johnson, recently promoted to captain at Station 74, comes from a family of firefighters, including his father and uncle. He is married with two daughters.

Fellow HFD firefighter David Boudreaux describes his friend as smart and playful. He's an avid fisher and hunter.

Close friend and firefighter Eric Kellum, 31, said Johnson is gifted at saving lives and with putting firefighters at ease during stressful times.

“When it comes to our job, we see a lot of crazy stuff. Ricky uses his humor to help us handle bad situations,” Kellum said.

Kellum added: “He's a fighter and hard-headed. He'll pull through this.”

The third man, shot in the leg, was treated and released from an area hospital.

paige.hewitt@chron.com