Hollywood Hills homeowner shoots and injures neighbor who refused to leave their property
- A homeowner in California shot his neighbor after breaking into his home and refusing to leave
- Police said the neighbor, identified by the community as “Alex,” suffered a mental episode during the incident occurred
- Alex was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the homeowner was released after questioning by police
A Hollywood Hills homeowner shot and killed his neighbor who broke into his home and refused to leave during what authorities are calling a mental “episode.”
Tuesday morning, officers responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon on the 2200 block of Chelan Place – near popular Runyon Canyon Park.
Police said the neighbor may have been experiencing a mental episode when the homeowner confronted the suspect in front of his home and an argument ensued.
The neighbor, identified as “Alex,” shattered the rear window of a Porsche and then forcibly entered his neighbor's home, reported KTL.
Los Angeles Police said, “The homeowner retreated into his own residence, but the suspect followed him and forced his way through the front door.”
Police outside the 2200 block of Chelan Place after a homeowner shot and wounded his neighbor who broke into his home and refused to leave
Los Angeles police said the neighbor, identified by the community as “Alex,” was having some sort of mental episode when he shattered the rear window of a Porsche
“When asked to leave, the suspect did not and the homeowner grabbed a gun. The subject approached the homeowner and out of fear for his safety, the homeowner shot the subject.”
Alex was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the homeowner was released after questioning by police.
It is unclear what prompted Alex to smash the car window, but a man named Steve Costello had traveled from Las Vegas to purchase a Mercedes from the suspect.
“He was going through some kind of emotional stuff. He told me his father had passed away and that was why he sold the house and his car,” Costello said.
A neighbor said Alex suffers from mental illness and substance abuse.
'The concerns are that he is mentally unstable. He really needs help and there have been repeated instances where he has called for help, so to speak, so this seems like another one of those cases,” she said.
A neighbor said Alex suffers from mental illness and substance abuse. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the homeowner was released after questioning
Police said: 'There is no threat to the public. It is not believed to be a robbery or a botched burglary, and at this time it is in the hands of detectives.”
According to Zillow, homes in the 2200 block of Chelan Place have an assessed value ranging from $3.97 million to $2.04 million.
Runyon Canyon Park is known as a celebrity hotspot and its scenic trails.