Man, 81, Who Killed Robbery Suspect Faces Two Firearms Charges

An 81-year-old man who shot and killed a suspected robber in a Beverly Hills apartment building on New Year’s Eve was charged Thursday with two misdemeanor gun offenses.

Through an attorney, Thomas Clarence Korshak, of the mid-Wilshire District in Los Angeles, pleaded innocent in Beverly Hills Municipal Court to one count of carrying a concealed weapon and one count of carrying a loaded firearm in a public place, authorities said.

Korshak, a retired jewelry merchant, did not have a permit for the gun, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth C. Wullschleger, who filed the criminal complaint.

Korshak was not charged in the death of his alleged assailant, Alan Jerome Paige, 26, because Beverly Hills police and the district attorney’s office concluded that Korshak acted in self-defense, Wullschleger said.

Donald R. Wager, Korshak’s attorney, said: “The problem is, what do they do in this kind of situation where someone may be alive because they may have committed an offense?”

Wager added that he has not yet discussed the case with Korshak, who did not personally appear in court Thursday because he was undergoing kidney dialysis, a treatment he receives three times a week. “He has not been feeling particularly well for some time now,” Wager said.

The maximum penalty for each of the offenses of which Korshak is accused is six months in County Jail and a $1,000 fine.

Wullschleger said, however, that his office would not oppose probation for Korshak if he is convicted of the charges.

“We’re not going to ask to put an 81-year-old man in jail,” Wullschleger said.

The shooting occurred about 6:20 p.m. on New Year’s Eve as Korshak and his wife, on their way to a party, entered the vestibule of an apartment building at 137 S. Maple Drive in Beverly Hills, according to authorities.

Korshak told police that a man, later identified as Paige, followed them into the building and demanded money and jewelry. One of the man’s hands was thrust into his jacket pocket, pointing as if he had a gun, police quoted Korshak as saying.

When Korshak stooped to put down a bottle of liquor he had brought as a gift, the assailant yelled an obscenity and told Korshak to hurry up, according to Korshak’s account. At that point, Korshak told police, the assailant moved toward him. Korshak then pulled a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver and fired at least two shots, police said.

Paige staggered outside and collapsed near his car, which he had left running at the curb, according to police. He died about 50 minutes later at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The report said police recovered an open, eight-inch knife inside Paige’s auto. Paige, however, was not armed, authorities said.

Wullschleger, the deputy district attorney, said Korshak received his gun about 10 years ago as a gift from a grandson. Korshak carried the weapon to and from his jewelry business in downtown Los Angeles, Wullschleger said.

Authorities have no reason to doubt Korshak’s account of the killing, Wullschleger said. “Statements made by Mr. and Mrs. Korshak were consistent with the facts,” he said.

Korshak is to appear for a pretrial conference on Jan. 24 in Beverly Hills Municipal Court.