Los Angeles, CA — A 79-year-old landlord is recovering in the hospital after allegedly shooting and killing a naked intruder who broke both of his legs during a violent encounter at an apartment complex in Los Angeles on November 7.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the shocking incident unfolded around 7 a.m. at a property located on the 4500 block of Tujunga Avenue in the Studio City area.
The Confrontation and Attack
Authorities said the landlord, a military veteran, rushed to assist two women who began screaming when a naked man entered the apartment complex. Moments later, the situation turned violent.
LAPD Capt. Warner Castillo told NBC 4 that the intruder suddenly attacked the elderly landlord.
“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 said.
The impact broke both of the landlord’s legs, leaving him seriously injured.
Fatal Gunfire
After being attacked, the landlord reportedly pulled out a firearm and opened fire on the intruder, striking him in the head and chest. Officials confirmed that the intruder died at the scene.
Capt. Castillo noted that the landlord was later hospitalized in serious condition. Investigators said there appeared to be no prior connection between the intruder and any of the tenants in the building.
Witness Accounts and Video Evidence
Nearby security footage obtained by PEOPLE and local affiliates ABC 7, NBC 4, and Cleveland 19 showed the naked man wandering across the street before the attack, appearing to talk to himself and grab a sign.
“[The intruder] just was walking up and down the sidewalk. Then he saw the gate was open and ran over there in their gate,” one witness told Cleveland 19.
Neighbors described the landlord as a kind and gentle man who was simply reacting in self-defense.
“He is very sweet, very kind, gentle. To hear he shot somebody would be out of self-defense,” a resident said.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are continuing to investigate what led the intruder to enter the property and attack the elderly man. The LAPD has not released the suspect’s identity.
Residents in the neighborhood told reporters that safety concerns have risen in recent months, with multiple incidents involving unhoused individuals wandering near residential complexes.
Robert Mendoza, a tenant in the building, said safety has become a growing issue.
“There have been other problems around here lately — people yelling, walking into yards. It’s scary,” he told Cleveland 19.
As of Sunday, the LAPD had not issued a formal update on the case or commented on whether charges might be filed.
What are your thoughts on this violent confrontation and the landlord’s act of self-defense? Share your views in the comments below.
