JEFFERSON PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A shooting suspect at the center of an hourslong SWAT standoff at a home in Jefferson Park has been arrested after a person was found dead in the front yard. The victim’s family says it may have stemmed from a feud between a property owner and a tenant.
Video from the scene shows a large law enforcement presence outside the home on 23rd Street and Arlington Avenue.
Los Angeles police said they were called to the home around 1:30 p.m. Saturday after reports of a shooting. The 911 caller said the shooting victim was lying outside, while the gunman was inside the home.
“The call stated that the victim was laying shot in the front yard of the location, and the suspect was inside who shot the victim,” said Capt. Mike Bland with LAPD.
When officers arrived, they tried to approach the victim, who was found dead with a gunshot wound. That’s when LAPD said the suspect fired a shot at officers from inside the home. No officers were hit or injured, and LAPD returned gunfire.
Officers backed up and called in SWAT to contain the scene. From there, the suspect reportedly barricaded himself inside the home for hours.
“Part of our SWAT response is also a mental health component, where we have our mental evaluation unit come out and try to make contact. I don’t know if there is any past connection with this suspect. And I don’t know the relationship between the suspect and the home, and the suspect and the victim. But we do have the situation contained as we speak, and hopefully we can reach a peaceful outcome with him at this time,” Bland said.
Police said the suspect was eventually taken into custody without further incident around 9 p.m.
“That suspect did sustain some injuries, and he is being transported to the hospital right now in unknown condition,” said Bruce Borihanh with LAPD.
It’s unclear what kind of injuries the suspect has or how he sustained them.
The victim’s family members watched the scene play out. They told Eyewitness News off-camera that the suspect was the victim’s tenant for decades. They said in recent years, the relationship soured over past due rent, high utility bills and allegations of squatting.
Relatives say that when the victim learned the suspect was back at the home, the victim confronted the suspect, who then shot them.
Still, police have not provided further details about what may have motivated the attack. The incident is still under investigation.
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