An armed California homeowner fired shots at a group of would-be burglars who broke into his home in an affluent Los Angeles neighborhood on Monday, police say.
Police say at least two suspects entered a home in the Valley Village neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley around 3 p.m. when they were confronted by the homeowner, who opened fire and hit one of the perpetrators twice with a semi-automatic handgun.
The other suspect fled before police arrived at the scene a short time later.
CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNER SHOT HOME INVASION SUSPECT, ANOTHER KILLED IN TARGETED ROBBERY: POLICE
An armed California homeowner fired shots at a group of would-be burglars who broke into his home in an affluent Los Angeles neighborhood on Monday, police say. (kiosk television)
Police found the 25-year-old suspect wounded inside the home, located in the 11600 block of Addison Street, while the homeowner, who was home alone at the time, was also injured, LAPD Capt. Kelly Muniz said at a news conference Monday.
Muniz did not say how the homeowner was injured, but said he was taken to a local hospital. She believes the home was targeted at random.
The wounded suspect, who has not been identified, was taken to hospital and is in critical condition. It is unclear whether the invaders were armed.
“Two suspects entered a residence with an occupant inside,” Muniz said. “That occupant armed himself with a handgun and fired at the would-be burglars who were inside his home.”
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An aerial view of the scene on Monday. (kiosk television)
“I can't confirm if there was a physical altercation, but I do know that the [homeowner] “He was injured during this incident and was taken to hospital.”
Muniz said the suspect on the run is described as a black man in his 20s.
Police set up a perimeter around the neighborhood as they searched for the remaining suspects and residents were urged to stay indoors, Fox 11 reports.
Muniz said robberies have increased throughout the city of Los Angeles.
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Police cordoned off the scene after the shooting. (kiosk television)
“From now on, the best line of defense is to know your neighbors and who is around, making sure to secure your windows,” Muniz said. “The weather is getting warmer, leaving windows open also invites burglars, so you need to keep those kinds of preventative measures in mind.”
In April, a homeowner shot a burglar inside a gated home on the coast of Newport Beach, California.
