Man Shot After Opening Door to Stranger Fleeing Gunman

An 87-year-old man was shot and killed as he opened the door of his La Puente apartment to a man fleeing an adversary armed with a gun, authorities said.

Jose Antonio Duarte was at his home with his 80-year-old wife about 6 p.m. Thursday, when a fistfight between two men across the street got out of control, Deputy George Ducoulombier said.

The intended victim, 33, ran across the street and began pounding on Duarte’s door, Ducoulombier said.

Just as Duarte opened the door, the man across the street fired four or five shots at his intended target but missed, striking Duarte instead. Duarte died at his doorstep, authorities said.

Deputies said they did not know why the two men had been quarreling, but it may have been a gang-related incident. The younger man was questioned and released by deputies, Ducoulombier said.

The gunman, who is still being sought, is described as a Latino male 25 to 30 years old, 5-foot-5 inches to 5-foot-7 inches tall, with a scar on the left side of his face and numerous tattoos. Anyone with information is asked to call deputies at (213) 890-5500.