A 13-year-old boy called 911 after an intruder forced his way into an Arcadia home and fatally shot his father Tuesday evening.
Police in tactical gear and with weapons drawn descended upon the neighborhood on the 50 block of Woodland Lane while responding to the call shortly before 6:30 p.m.
Investigators said the boy called police after he and his mother arrived home to find a suspect had forced his way in.
The suspect took them inside the home where the 61-year-old father was shot in the stomach after some type of altercation, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Steven De Jong confirmed. It was unclear if the father was shot in front of the family.
“I can’t imagine what that must feel like. If he actually did witness his father get murdered,” De Jong said.
The unidentified father was transported to a local hospital where he died from his wounds.
“Obviously, a very frightening situation for the entire family and unfortunately a man lost his life,” Dejong said. “It appears that this is possibly personally motivated.”
The boy and his mother were not harmed and nothing appeared to be taken from the home.
Investigators plan to review security footage to help identify a suspect and want to talk with witnesses.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323) 890-5500. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go to the lacrimestoppers.org website.
