WOODLAND HILLS : Charges Considered in Fatal Shooting

Prosecutors are expected to decide today whether to charge a Woodland Hills man with murder in the death of a neighbor whom he shot after twice calling police to report that the man was threatening him and breaking into his house, authorities said Wednesday

Dean William Perkins, 31, was arrested on suspicion of murder Tuesday after shooting his neighbor, Kevin Francis Cooper, 25, with a rifle, Los Angeles Police Lt. George Rock said.

Perkins shot Cooper about 4 p.m. after a dispute erupted while the two were drinking on Perkins’ front porch in the 5900 block of Fallbrook Avenue, Rock said.

Cooper refused to leave the property and attempted to go inside Perkins’ house, breaking a window in the rear, Rock said. Perkins called police and reported that his neighbor was drunk and causing a disturbance. He then armed himself with a rifle, went outside and fired a warning shot into the air, investigators said.

Rock said Perkins called police again when Cooper got inside the house. But before officers arrived, he fatally shot Cooper. Rock said Perkins told officers that he fired in self-defense.