LA homeowner defends toddler and turf from four home invaders, wins duel

Police responded to a burglary call from a Los Angeles residence early Saturday morning, finding a corpse and a trail of blood. Neither belonged to the homeowner, whose two-armed security system prevailed against four home invaders.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, three to four men in their 20s entered the Granada Hills home in the 11400 block of Swinton Avenue "with the intent to burglarize the location." While the suspects successfully stole into the house, they discovered getting out would be far more difficult.

The homeowner, who indicated the suspects were all wearing dark clothing, hoodies and masks, was inside at the time of the incursion. He had more than property to defend, granted inside the home with him was a grandmother and a toddler.

Police indicated that once inside, a suspect pointed a gun at the homeowner. However, the master of the house quickly mastered the situation, blowing the suspect away with his handgun.

Following the decisive duel, it appears the homeowner may have also left one of the three fleeing suspects with a souvenir. After all, the LAPD indicated there is reason to suspect "an additional suspect was injured during the incident due to a trail of blood located during the investigation."

Beside their accomplice, suspects also left behind what is believed to be their getaway car at the scene, a black BMW sedan.

The LAPD indicated no one beside the suspects were injured during the incident.

Police indicated Sunday that they are withholding the dead suspect's identity until next of kin have been notified.

A neighbor who asked not to be identified told KTLA-TV, "Well the suspects messed with the wrong homeowner, you know."

"Makes me feel good that people are actually protect[ing] their homes," he added.

Pat Walsh, another nearby resident, said, "We've been having burglaries every day in this neighborhood and so I'm not surprised, I'm not surprised at all this has happened. It's a real problem here and the residents here are fed up."

The homeowner was detained by police and taken to Devonshire Community Police Station for questioning but was subsequently released.

Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton stressed, "Anyone that's inside of their residence that is faced with a deadly threat and is perceived as a deadly threat has a right to protect themselves."

There have been a string of burglaries in the area where homeowners have not all been so fortunate.

KTLA reported that on Nov. 29, another Granada Hills home had $150,000 in valuables stolen by burglars. The family had been out Christmas shopping but raced home after spotting intruders rifling through the house on a baby monitor. The father caught up with the suspects and managed to ram their car multiple times, but couldn't mete out justice because he was ultimately outgunned. He did, however, get out unscathed.

"It's insane," said Maria Turley, a local resident. "We're not safe anymore. We're a quiet little community. I've been here for 28 years. This doesn't happen, but it's become normal now."

As of Nov. 25, Los Angeles had 13,407 reported burglaries this year, a 15.2% increase over 2021. The LAPD indicated there had only been 1,377 arrests for burglary.

Total property crimes in the city have increased 2.1% over last year and 15.4% over 2021.

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