The Region - News from March 8, 1985

The district attorney’s office released a report that concludes an off-duty Los Angeles police officer acted lawfully when he shot and wounded a man apparently trying to break into his home. Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Diamond said Officer N. C. Atkins was sleeping in his home last September in the Windsor Hills area when he heard the sound of breaking glass coming from another bedroom. Atkins armed himself with a handgun and discovered Matthew Mark Griffin in the house. When Griffin reportedly reached toward his waist, Atkins fired, wounding Griffin in the arm and body. Diamond said that the discovery of the burglar was sufficient to make a reasonable person fear for his safety. He added that when Griffin reached for his waist, Atkins was justified in assuming that he might be armed and preparing to kill him.