Father Fatally Shoots Son During Argument

A Northridge plumber fatally shot his 24-year-old son during an argument that remained under investigation Wednesday, Los Angeles police said.

Arthur S. Rudnick, 56, was being held at the Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of killing his son, Eric. Detectives said it appeared to be self-defense.

Rudnick, who has worked as a Los Angeles city plumber since 1989, phoned police to report the 5:30 p.m. shooting at his home in the 19000 block of Nashville Street, Detective Mitch Robins said.

Eric Rudnick was shot in the chest with a rifle, Robins said, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The son reportedly also had been armed with a rifle.

Eric Rudnick, who was unemployed, was living at home with his father and mother, Ruby-Ann Rudnick, Robins said. He said neighbors had phoned police to express support for the elder Rudnick.

In an interview, a neighbor who asked not to be identified said the Rudnicks were “a wonderful, nice family that have worked very hard and had a very troubled child.”

The neighbor said Eric Rudnick had threatened the neighbor’s visiting relative with a rifle three years ago when the man refused to move a car that Eric Rudnick believed was parked too close to his on the street.

He pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon on Oct. 24, 1988, court records show. He was placed on two years probation and ordered to work two months for the state Transportation Department.

In 1987, Eric Rudnick pleaded no contest to driving with a suspended license, records show. He was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail and placed on probation.