The shooting happened about 7:15 a.m. Friday near a 101 Freeway offramp; detectives say the landlord was body-slammed before opening fire.
LOS ANGELES — A naked intruder was shot to death after allegedly attacking a 79-year-old landlord outside a Studio City apartment complex Friday morning, police said. The landlord, identified by neighbors as a longtime caretaker of the property and a military veteran, was hospitalized with two broken legs.
Police said two tenants screamed when the unclothed man entered through an open gate on the 4500 block of Tujunga Avenue. The landlord ran outside and confronted him near the driveway. During the struggle, the intruder lifted the older man and slammed him onto the concrete, according to Capt. Warner Castillo. The landlord, still on the ground, fired multiple shots, striking the intruder in the head and chest. Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene. Officers initially described the location as North Hollywood before confirming the neighborhood as Studio City.
Detectives collected surveillance footage from nearby buildings showing the intruder moments earlier pacing on the sidewalk and grabbing a street sign. Investigators said there is no known relationship between the intruder and residents of the complex. The landlord’s weapon was recovered and will undergo ballistics testing. Officials did not release the intruder’s name pending identification and notification of family. The landlord was listed in serious but stable condition following surgery for leg fractures, police said.
Residents said the complex sits in a busy corridor between Tujunga Avenue and a freeway ramp, where foot traffic and noise often draw people to the gate. Several neighbors described the landlord as even-tempered and attentive to tenants. A man who lives across the street said he heard a brief sequence—“screams, then three shots”—before sirens filled the block. Officers closed the street and strung yellow tape from the curb to the courtyard gate as detectives marked evidence on the driveway. Traffic slowed on the ramp while investigators worked for hours.
Police said the department’s homicide unit is handling the case and will present its findings to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors will evaluate whether the shooting fits California’s self-defense standards, including whether the landlord faced an imminent threat and whether force was proportional. Detectives said they plan to interview additional witnesses, analyze video frame-by-frame, and review any 911 recordings. Autopsy and toxicology results for the intruder are pending. Authorities said more information is expected later this week.
By Sunday, a small cluster of flowers sat near the gate as maintenance crews sprayed the pavement. “He helps everyone here,” said a tenant who declined to give her name. “He’s the one who came when we yelled.” The complex remained quiet, with a few residents pausing at the tape line to point out where the men struggled. Officers said there have been no related arrests and no reports of additional threats.
The landlord remained hospitalized Monday as detectives continued interviews and evidence reviews. The district attorney’s office will decide on any potential charges after receiving the case file.
Author note: Last updated November 10, 2025.