LA homeowner opens fire after four armed men broke in to burglarize his home, killing one
- Los Angeles police officers were called Saturday morning to reports of a burglary at an address in the Granada Hills neighborhood
- Four suspects entered a home and allegedly threatened the homeowner with a firearm
- But the homeowner then shot one of the suspects, who died at the scene
A homeowner fatally shot a home invasion suspect early Saturday morning in Los Angeles while a grandmother and toddler were in the home.
Officers were called to a house in Swinton Avenue in the Granada Hills at around 5am on Saturday after someone reported a 'hot hunt' – a burglary in which the homeowner was present.
“Officers' preliminary investigation revealed that approximately three to four armed males in their 20s entered the home with the intent to burglarize the location,” LAPD officials said.
“A suspect pointed a gun at the victim and while the suspects were inside the home, the victim pulled out a firearm and a shooting occurred.”
One of the suspects, a man, was struck by gunfire and died at the scene.
The man was taken for questioning, but it is not clear whether he has been charged
The name of the deceased burglar has not been released.
The other three suspects fled the scene and have not yet been identified, but police said a “trail of blood” indicated one of them had been injured.
“An additional suspect is believed to have been injured during the incident due to a trail of blood found during the investigation,” authorities said.
There were also a grandmother and a toddler in the house at the time.
Video from the scene shows the unnamed male homeowner being detained by police during the initial investigation, but it is unknown if he has been charged.
Police located a vehicle associated with the suspects.
Neighbors were alarmed by the incident but told KTLA they were not surprised.
Pat Walsh said: “We have burglaries in this neighborhood every day.
“So I'm not surprised at all. It's been a real problem. The residents here are fed up.'
The police were called early Saturday morning
Other neighbors were happy that the victims were not injured or killed.
“The suspects messed with the wrong homeowner,” a neighbor said.
“So hopefully this will stop them. It makes me feel good that people can protect their homes and stop these guys.”
It follows a spate of 'dinner burglaries' in the area, with burglars breaking into homes thinking residents are out for dinner.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department.