A 79-year-old military veteran armed with a gun shot and killed a naked intruder early Friday morning during an attempted burglary in a Studio City neighborhood, police told NBC4 Investigates.
The deadly altercation unfolded near Tujunga Avenue and Sarah Street, where police responded at about 7 a.m. to a report of a shooting.
The veteran heard screaming coming from outside a neighbor’s house in the San Fernando Valley community and confronted the naked intruder, the LAPD said. Two women were inside the house, located southwest of the 170-101/134 freeway interchange, during the break-in, police said.
During the ensuing struggle, the veteran’s legs were broken when he was body-slammed by the intruder, Capt. Warner Castillo told NBC4 Investigates.
“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 veteran opened fire, striking the intruder in the chest before another gunshot struck the man in the head, police said. The intruder, whose identity was not immediately available, died at the scene.
The veteran was hospitalized in serious condition.
Castillo said there did not appear to be any type of relationship between the intruder and the people inside the house.
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