The sheriff says her underwear had been removed and that her father hit the man's head with his fist, killing him.
No one in Shiner is second-guessing his actions.
"A couple friends of mine, we're sitting right there and we discussed what little we knew about it and I frankly said, I'd give the guy a medal," one man told Eyewitness News.
"When he saw that, I think it's justified. I'm sorry but I totally think it's justified. What would you do if it's your child?" another Shiner resident said.
Harmon said the father appeared to be remorseful over the man's death and said he never intended to kill him, but rather save his child. A grand jury will decide what, if any, charges the father will face.