Los Angeles homeowner stabs suspect who broke into his home in the middle of the night

A homeowner in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley stabbed to death a suspect in his mid-20s who broke into his home in the middle of the night this week, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed to Fox News Digital.

After the suspect forced his way through the front door of a home in the Winnetka neighborhood shortly after 4 a.m., he was first confronted by the homeowner's daughter, then got into an argument with the homeowner, who stabbed the intruder in the stomach, police said.

The suspect, who collapsed not far from the house, was soon found by police after leaving a trail of blood from the house.

Homeowner in California shoots burglary suspects and injures 1

The suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, was arrested and taken to a hospital where he is in stable condition, police told Fox News Digital.

A neighbor told police the suspect also tried to break into her home, FOX 11 reported.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The break-in was caught on video, and the homeowner's Ring video camera showed the suspect slamming his body against the door. Another security camera caught him sneaking around outside.

A criminal tourism group operating out of a Los Angeles car rental business has stolen millions in robberies and home invasions, federal authorities say

“They were fighting over the door. The guy ended up breaking it down,” Joseph Santos, the homeowner's son who lives nearby, told KABC-TV. “My dad acted in self-defense. The guy jumped into the room and everyone fought him off. My sisters took a vacuum cleaner and started hitting him on the head.”

Another neighbor, Tigran Sargsyan, agreed that “everyone has the right to defend themselves.”

“I heard that the suspect was on my property at night,” he told the station. “Someone was walking on my roof. My neighbor was informed. She called me at night. My phone was on silent. I didn't hear anything, but she was alone. She needed help. She called me. I went out and she was very scared.”

There have been other burglaries in the area this week, including in Sherman Oaks and Canoga Park, where residents chased away a suspect. Three suspects were arrested in the Sherman Oaks robbery.

“We will continue our urgent work to make Los Angeles safer and combat crime across the city,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “I have met with Los Angeles residents who live in areas with rising burglary rates and am coordinating closely with the Los Angeles Police Department to take action to reduce crime in those areas. Those responsible for crimes must be held accountable, and I thank the Los Angeles Police Department for their work.”

Source of the original article: Los Angeles homeowner stabs suspect who broke into his home in the middle of the night