Landlord, 79, Allegedly Shot and Killed a Naked Intruder Who Police Say Body-Slammed the Landlord and Broke His Legs

A 79-year-old Los Angeles landlord, a military veteran, allegedly shot and killed a naked intruder after being attacked in his apartment complex.

The incident occurred around 7 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, according to reports from ABC 7, NBC 4, and Cleveland 19.

Authorities said the intruder wandered into the apartment complex located on the 4500 block of Tujunga Avenue. Two women began screaming, prompting the landlord to respond. Capt. Warner Castillo of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) told NBC 4 that 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,” Castillo explained.

The landlord then reportedly opened fire, shooting the intruder in the head and chest. The intruder was pronounced dead at the scene.

Castillo confirmed that the landlord was hospitalized in serious condition and added that investigators have found no evidence of a prior connection between the intruder and the tenants.

Security camera footage from a nearby complex showed the naked man walking across the street before the incident, appearing to talk to himself and grab a sign, NBC 4 reported.

“[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 witness told Cleveland 19.

A neighbor described the injured landlord as “a very nice man,” telling the outlet, “He is very sweet, very kind, gentle. To hear he shot somebody would be out of self-defense.”

Robert Mendoza, a resident of the building, added that the area has experienced safety issues before, often involving unhoused individuals.