Local News in Brief : Van Nuys Man Shoots, Kills 19-Year-Old Intruder in Home

A Van Nuys resident Wednesday shot and killed a teen-ager who reportedly tried to attack him while burglarizing his home.

The 47-year-old man, whose name was not released by police, told officers that he was asleep in his bedroom at 12:40 p.m. when he heard noises coming from within his home in the 15400 block of Cohasset Street, said Detective Mel Arnold of the Los Angeles police.

Arming himself with a handgun, the resident left the bedroom and encountered a 19-year-old Panorama City man in the hallway, Arnold said. The intruder lunged at the resident, who fired three shots at him, Arnold reported.

The intruder, whose name was not immediately released pending notification of relatives, did not appear to have a weapon, police said. After being shot, he fled to the kitchen, where he collapsed on the floor, Arnold said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

After the shooting, the resident told officers he had noted that a window on the rear kitchen door of the home had been broken into, and that the intruder had apparently reached inside to unlock the door.

Arnold said the man was released by police after they had determined that he was the victim of a burglary.