A gun owner shot at multiple alleged burglars after the suspects broke into the man’s house in Los Angeles County, California, on Monday.
In a press release regarding the incident, the Los Angeles Police Department said patrol officers responded on Monday to a shooting incident in Valley Village that involved a homeowner and at least two suspects.
“When officers arrived, they discovered at least two suspects entered a home with the resident inside. When the resident observed the suspects in his residence, he armed himself with a semi-automatic handgun,” the Los Angeles Police Department stated. “One suspect contacted the resident and dispersed pepper spray. The resident then fired several rounds, striking one suspect. The wounded suspect remained at scene until police and paramedics arrived. The second suspect fled the location and entered a waiting vehicle.”
Police officers identified the injured suspect as 35-year-old Chucks Chukwudi. According to Fox 11, Chukwudi has a history of criminal activity, including robbery, firearm possession, and burglary. Chukwudi was transported to a local hospital in critical but stable condition.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the homeowner was also wounded during Monday’s incident and was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
According to Fox News, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Kelly Muniz indicated that the burglary attempt on the man’s house appears to have been a randomly selected target. Muniz did not confirm whether the intruders were armed or how the homeowner was injured.
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“Two suspects entered a residence with an occupant inside. That occupant armed himself with a handgun and fired at the potential burglars that were inside of his home,” Muniz told reporters. “I can’t confirm if there was a physical altercation, but I do know that the [homeowner] was injured during this incident and transported to the hospital.”
According to Fox News, Muniz told reporters that the at-large suspect was an African American male believed to be in his early 20s. Fox 11 reported that a perimeter was established around the local neighborhood while police searched for the missing suspect.
Muniz also addressed the increasing number of burglaries in Los Angeles.
“Moving forward, the best line of defense is knowing your neighbors and being aware of who’s around, ensuring that you secure your windows,” Muniz stated. “The weather is increasingly getting warmer, leaving windows open invites burglars as well, so just being aware of those sort of preventative measures.”
