• What Happened: Pastor Pedro Cantu, 62, founder of Amor y Restauración church in Houston, was fatally shot by his roommate during a home break-in.
  • Why It Matters: The suspected burglar, Rodney Dushaw Yoder, 44, was also wounded and has been charged with burglary of a habitation, while the 35-year-old roommate who fired the weapon was detained and it remains unclear if he will face charges.
  • Bottom Line: Cantu founded Love and Restoration church in 1991 after immigrating from Mexico and was remembered by Houston's Latino church community as a deeply beloved pastor, father, and spiritual leader.

A Houston pastor who spent more than three decades building one of the city's most beloved Latino congregations was killed early Saturday morning in a tragic accident during a home break-in.

Pedro Cantu, 62, founder and lead pastor of Amor y Restauración, Love and Restoration church, was fatally shot just after midnight when his 35-year-old roommate fired at a burglar who had broken into their home at 1233 South Kirkwood Road. The shot meant for the intruder struck Cantu instead. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Houston Police investigators confirmed that the shooting was accidental. "The armed male was attempting to defend the residence, shooting the suspect and accidentally striking Mr. Cantu," HPD said in its release.

The suspected burglar, 44-year-old Rodney Dushaw Yoder, was also wounded in the shooting and has been charged with burglary of a habitation. The roommate, who was attempting to defend the residence, was detained. It remains unclear whether he will face criminal charges.

Rodney Dushaw Yoder had no business being a free man on the night he broke into Pastor Cantu's home. Court records from the Harris County District Clerk show a criminal history stretching back to at least 2020, including aggravated assault on a family member, multiple burglary of habitation charges, evading arrest with a prior conviction, repeated violations of protective orders, and assault of a family and household member with a prior conviction.

These are not minor infractions. These are the charges of a dangerous, repeat violent offender who was given chance after chance by a system that failed to keep him off the streets. Because Rodney Yoder was free to walk the streets of Houston that night, a pastor is dead, a wife is widowed, three daughters lost their father, and an entire congregation is grieving a man they will never replace.

His daughter Perla Cantu wanted the world to know who her father really was. "I want people to know that my father was a peaceful man," she said. "He did not own a firearm, regardless of what you may have heard."

His wife Leticia, speaking in Spanish at a Sunday worship service packed with grieving church members, said simply: "My husband loved you all deeply. He loved the church deeply. I never heard him speak ill of anyone. He loved you all sincerely."

Pastor Cantu and Leticia immigrated from Mexico in July 1990 and began hosting family worship and Bible study in their small apartment the following year. By the end of 1991 they had formally opened Love and Restoration church, which grew into a pillar of Houston's Spanish-speaking Christian community.

Pastor Abraham Guajardo of Eden Church said it best: "He carried authority in this city with humility and conviction. I truly do not know another one like him."

Houston lost a good man. Rest in peace, Pastor Cantu.