Man, 64, Holding Family Hostage Killed by Police
A Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team officer shot and killed an elderly, terminally ill man who held his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren hostage for four hours Sunday.
Joseph Landin, 64, died at County-USC Medical Center of a single gunshot wound in the stomach. The hostages were unharmed.
Sgt. Sid Nuckles said officers were called to the El Sereno home of David Landin, 29, Sunday afternoon where they found the elder Landin wearing a security guard uniform and armed with a .38-caliber pistol.
Also in the apartment in the 4700 block of Edison Avenue were David Landin’s wife, Evelyn, 31, and their 7-year-old and 13-month-old sons.
SWAT officers stormed the apartment after several hours of negotiations failed. Nuckles said Joseph Landin, who was holding the revolver near his son’s head, turned and pointed the weapon at officers. A SWAT member fired a single shot from his .45-caliber automatic, striking the elder Landin.
Nuckles said Joseph Landin, who reportedly had been drinking, was recently told that he was suffering from a terminal ailment.
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