A Los Angeles homeowner shot and killed a suspected burglar over the weekend after a group of men wearing dark hoodies and masks broke into his home — where a child and grandmother were left rattled by the brazen attempted burglary.
Police responded to the Granada Hills home around 5 a.m. Saturday after receiving radio calls of shots fired inside the residence.
The homeowner told police he was inside his home when three or four unknown men wearing “dark clothing, hoodies and masks” broke in, the Los Angeles Police Department wrote on X.
“A suspect pointed a weapon at the victim and while the suspects were inside the residence, the victim produced a firearm and a shooting occurred,” the department wrote.
The homeowner chased the suspects, who are believed to be in their 20s, out of the house, the department wrote in a separate statement.
The suspects fled on foot and left behind the black BMW sedan they arrived in, cops said.
Paramedics pronounced the suspect who was shot deceased at the scene.
Authorities believe one of the suspects who ran away was also injured after spotting a trail of blood at the residence.
A grandmother and toddler were inside the home, along with the homeowner, at the time of the invasion.
The homeowner, who was photographed outside the residence seemingly in handcuffs, was taken to the Devonshire Community Police Station to be interviewed, though they were later released.
Neighbors told KTLA they weren’t shocked by the bold attempted robbery.
“We’ve been having burglaries every day in this neighborhood,” resident Pat Walsh told the outlet. “So I’m not surprised at all. It’s been a real problem. Residents here are fed up.”
Another neighbor who did not want to be named told the outlet the robbers “messed with the wrong homeowner.”
“So hopefully this will stop them,” they said. “It makes me feel good that people are able to protect their homes and stop these guys.”
The Los Angeles County coroner’s investigators examined the decedent and determined he suffered two gunshot wounds, and was found in possession of the homeowner’s property.
The slain suspect’s identity has not been released.
