Heartbreaking Twist to Story of Man Shot on Neighbor's Porch at 4 A.M. After Demanding to Be Let In

A heartbreaking twist has been revealed in the story of a Texas man shot dead on a neighbor's porch at 4 a.m. after police say he came knocking and demanding to be let in. According to the victim's family, Spencer Crandall had been suffering from two ruptured discs in his back and had been taking muscle relaxers.

That, his wife said, led him to sometimes sleepwalk.

Spencer and Amanda Crandall. Spencer was shot in the wee hours of the day after Christmas after police say he tried to force his way inside a neighbor's home. His family says he was suffering from sleepwalking. (Source: WFAA-TV screen shot)

"Sometimes he would make it into the front yard and she [his wife] would go out and physically grab his arm and pull him back into the house so that he would be safe," his brother, Ryan, told WFAA-TV.

Then came Christmas night. His wife, Amanda, was out of town with family, leaving Spencer all alone. And that's when they believe he did something unusual: Instead of just taking the muscle relaxers, he also had some beer.

Why is that so odd? Because the Crandalls are members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and their faith forbids it.

"He was hurting really, really bad on Christmas Eve," Ryan told the station. "He would only have obtained it for the purpose of dealing with his back pain."

According to his family, he took his faith very seriously, having done his own mission. He was also an Eagle Scout.

Ryan added: "His favorite was to go out with missionaries. He loved missionary work, and teaching other people about Jesus Christ."

WFAA says the homeowner isn't likely to be charged, especially because he said he only fired his weapon because Spencer was trying to force his way into the neighbor's home.