A 23-year-old Texas man was arrested after a standoff early Friday morning and charged with killing his father, a beloved teacher and coach at Westbrook Intermediate School in Friendswood.

Nicholas Leggio has been charged with murder in the death of 65-year-old David Liggio and burglary after he tried to hide in a garage several blocks away while evading arrest, the League City Police Department said.

Police said they were called to the Leggio home at about 5:15 a.m. by someone reporting a body in the driveway. When they arrived, the saw the body, a man with injuries to his neck, and also spotted another man run into the house and lock the door. They pulled the victim to a safe spot and determined that he was already dead.

A tactical team tried to talk with the suspect inside the house with bullhorns, KTRK reported, but he refused. After about an hour, he escaped the house and led officers on a foot chase through the neighborhood until they caught him entering the garage.

The Clear Creek Independent School District issued a statement about David Leggio’s death, calling him a “longtime educator, coach, and friend” who had worked in the district for 18 years.

David Liggio, also known as Coach Liggio, was a physical education teacher at Westbrook Intermediate, where he also coached football, track, and cross country. As one can imagine, this is a difficult time for the students and staff at Westbrook Intermediate. The Clear Creek ISD counseling team will remain at the school to provide support on Monday. 

Nicholas Liggio is being held on a $180,000 bond, police said.

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[Featured image: Left, David Liggio/Clear Creek ISD and Nicholas Liggio/League City Police Department]