Armed Los Angeles homeowner opens fire on intruders, and the firefight is caught on camera

Andrew Blankstein and David K. Li and Suzanne Ciechalski and Matteo Moschella
Updated ·2 min read
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Armed Los Angeles homeowner opens fire on intruders, and the firefight is caught on camera

LOS ANGELES — Security cameras captured a homeowner opening fire on would-be robbers who tried to jump him as he approached his front door, police said.

The man, holding a drink in his right hand and reaching for keys with his left, approached his front door through an outdoor corridor, video showed.

That's when a person wearing a ski mask and dressed in black came up from behind, put a gun into the homeowner's back and demanded money, police said. They briefly tussled, the beverage went flying, and the attacker fled just as an accomplice approached, video showed.

A suspect, wearing a ski mask and dressed in black and holding a gun tussles with the homeowner whose beverage went flying. (Homeowner's surveillance camera)
A suspect, wearing a ski mask and dressed in black and holding a gun tussles with the homeowner whose beverage went flying. (Homeowner's surveillance camera)

The homeowner whipped out his weapon and squeezed off at least a half-dozen rounds at the retreating attackers, video showed.

The first attacker also opened fire before jumping into a dark sedan, driven by a third person, police said, as the second assailant fled on foot.

The homeowner told NBC Los Angeles that he's licensed to carry a concealed weapon and that he opened fire in defense of his wife and child inside.

The homeowner shoots at the retreating attackers with his weapon. (Homeowner's surveillance camera)
The homeowner shoots at the retreating attackers with his weapon. (Homeowner's surveillance camera)

“Just to make this clear, for everybody out there, there’s nothing in my house worth dying over to come and to try and get. I am willing to die for my family, and I am willing to kill for my family,” he said. “I will take matters into my own hands. I have and I will continue to do so."

The confrontation unfolded at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Plymouth Boulevard in Los Angeles’ Mid-City neighborhood, police said in a statement.

The homeowner, who asked not to be identified, wasn’t injured, and it wasn’t known whether any of the assailants were hit in the gunfire.

No arrests were immediately made.

Andrew Blankstein reported from Los Angeles and David K. Li from New York City.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com