Off-Duty Officer Surprises Intruders at Brother’s Home : Detective Kills Burglary Suspect

An off-duty detective who stumbled onto an apparent burglary at his brother’s Granada Hills home shot and killed one man in the house and apprehended another Wednesday afternoon, Los Angeles police said.

The victim was identified as Christopher Ortega, 23, of San Fernando. His alleged accomplice was identified as his brother, Greg Ortega, 24, also of San Fernando.

After noticing a broken window at his brother’s house, Detective James A. Miller, 31, entered to investigate, accompanied by his father and 2-year-old son, Jeremy, according to Lt. C. A. Higbie.

Higbie said the father, William Miller, was assaulted by Greg Ortega, who was carrying a frying pan and that Christopher Ortega then charged James Miller with a butcher knife. The detective fired four shots, hitting Christopher Ortega in the upper body, Higbie said.

The wounded man was taken to Granada Hills Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:37 p.m.

Greg Ortega was arrested on suspicion of murder because of his involvement in a crime that resulted in a fatalities, Higbie said. He was held at the Devonshire Division jail in Granada Hills, Higbie said.

Neighbor Heard Shots

Kristin Klier, 20, a neighbor, said she heard the gunshots at about 3:45 p.m. “Five minutes later, there were five police cars that converged on the house, and then I saw a man with a bloodied forehead sitting on the curb,” she said, referring to William Miller.

Shortly afterward, Klier said, police carried the victim out on a stretcher.

Police said James Miller had gone to the single-family home, in the 10000 block of Rubio Street, to help his brother, who was in the process of moving into the residence.

William Miller sustained minor facial injuries and was treated at Granada Hills Memorial Hospital and released, Higbie said. His 2-year-old grandson was not injured.

Detective Miller, who was not injured either, is an 8-year police veteran assigned to the downtown Parker Center headquarters.

Higbie said police do not believe the assailants were armed when the two entered the house.