Local News in Brief : Man Teaching Wife to Defend Herself With Gun Kills Himself

A man teaching his wife how to use a shotgun in the event of a burglary accidentally killed himself in Van Nuys, Los Angeles police said.

Louis Barresi, 28, shot himself in the chest Monday evening while showing his wife Linda, 27, how to load the single-barrel weapon at the El Cortez Motel, where the couple lived, Detective Dan Riehl said.

Linda Barresi told police that her husband wanted her to be able to protect herself while he worked nights as a machine operator, Riehl said.

Louis Barresi was shot when he demonstrated quick loading of the weapon while making believe someone was breaking into the room, the detective said. He died an hour later at Sherman Oaks Community Hospital, police said.

Both Linda Barresi and another person in the room confirmed the circumstances of the shooting, Riehl said.

Riehl said the dead man was a native of Florida who came to the area recently looking for work. The couple had stayed at the Sepulveda Boulevard motel for two months, he said.

“It was an unfortunate accident,” the detective said.