LOCAL : Van Nuys Man Dead in Handgun Row

A struggle over a handgun left a Van Nuys man dead and another in jail on suspicion of murder, authorities said today.

Police called to an apartment in the 16700 block of Sherman Way about 11 p.m. Sunday found Henry Pla, 23, dead of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Detectives learned that Pla had been shot during a dispute with a man identified as Eric Molina, 24, of Van Nuys, police said. The two men had argued and Pla grabbed a handgun, police said. Molina tried to disarm Pla and, during the struggle, the weapon fired, killing Pla, police said.

Molina was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held at the Van Nuys Jail pending the results of an autopsy and completion of the investigation, police said.