A landlord in Los Angeles allegedly shot and killed a naked intruder at an apartment complex after the man reportedly attacked him, causing severe injuries.
The incident took place around 7 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, according to ABC 7, NBC 4, and Cleveland 19.
Authorities said the intruder walked into the property on the 4500 block of Tujunga Avenue. Capt. Warner Castillo of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) told NBC 4 that two women inside the building began screaming when they saw the man, prompting their 79-year-old landlord — a military veteran — to intervene.
According to Castillo, the intruder “body-slammed” the landlord, breaking both of his legs. “The witnesses said the suspect basically lifted up the 79-year-old and body-slammed him to the ground on the driveway, which is concrete,” he said.
The landlord allegedly fired at the intruder, hitting him in the head and chest. The intruder was pronounced dead at the scene.
Castillo told NBC 4 that the landlord was hospitalized in serious condition. At present, investigators have found no indication that the intruder had any prior connection to the complex or its residents.
Security camera footage from a nearby building showed a naked man walking across the street shortly before the confrontation, appearing to talk to himself and grabbing a sign, NBC 4 reported.
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A witness told Cleveland 19, “[The intruder] just was walking up and down the sidewalk. Then he saw the gate was open and ran over there in their gate.”
A neighbor described the injured landlord as a “very nice man,” adding, “He is very sweet, very kind, gentle. To hear he shot somebody would be out of self-defense.”
Robert Mendoza, who lives at the complex, told Cleveland 19 that the area has experienced safety issues, often involving unhoused individuals.
