11 News reporter Kevin Reece talks to the shooter and his attorney

The Pasadena homeowner who gunned down two alleged burglars Wednesday told 11 News that he is "petrified."

Police released the 911 call from Wednesday’s fatal shooting of two suspected robbers who he claims were ripping off his neighbor.

In the recording the man, who we are only referring to as Joe, opened fire when he confronted two men who thought was breaking into a neighbor’s home.

The dramatic call to police has the unidentified shooter telling the Pasadena police dispatcher, “I won’t let them get away with this.”

Soon after you can hear the distinct sound of the cocking of a shotgun and repeated shots being fired.

The call started off calmly enough.

"(There are) burglars breaking into a house next door," the caller is heard on the 911 tape telling a police dispatcher.

"I've got a shotgun do you want me to stop 'em?" The dispatcher was quick to respond.

"Nope don't do that. Ain't no property worth shooting somebody over OK?," the Pasadena dispatcher said as he called out officers to the scene.

But the caller, whose name 11 News is withholding because police said they fear for his safety, grows antsy and decides to take matters into his own hands.

"I'll be honest with you I'm not gonna let 'em go I'm not gonna let them get away with this (expletive)," he tells the dispatcher.

Then a short time later: "I can’t take a chance on getting killed over this. I’m gonna shoot. I’m gonna shoot."

That's when the police dispatcher makes an urgent call to officers.

"This guy's got a shotgun if we don't get there he's gonna shoot their asses," the dispatcher radios to responding officers.

Too late.

On the 911 tape the distinct sound of a shotgun pumping and then a shot, then again and 10 seconds later one more shot. Three shots in all can be heard on the recording.

"The last thing Joe intended, knowing him the way I do, was to get in a violent confrontation with these people," said attorney Tom Lambright, who is representing the man who fired the fatal shots. Lambright said his client, a good friend, didn't want to kill anyone.

But the confrontation was violent. And it was fatal. Both of the unarmed men who were supposedly burglarizing the man's neighbor were shot dead.

The shooting may become a test of the state law that allows someone to use deadly force to protect one’s property. But does that right extend to protecting the property of your neighbors?

"They were bad guys, they were doing a bad thing. But the penalty for that is not to be shot," said 11 News legal expert Gerald Treece. "The penalty for that is not the death penalty. That's what I'm saying. If law enforcement officials had shown up and done exactly the same thing these law enforcement officials would also have trouble."