Intruder Killed During Attempt to Rob Family

A car salesman shot and killed an intruder who tried to rob his family Thursday after posing as a prospective car buyer, police said.

The salesman told police he pulled out a revolver in self-defense after three people--one of them armed with a handgun--came to his apartment in the 800 block of North Loara Street and tried to rob his family.

“It appears to be a home invasion that turned into an attempted robbery to a homicide,” said Anaheim Police Lt. Ray Welch.

Police said the robbery suspect later died at UCI Medical Center in Orange at 10:15 a.m. His name was being withheld Thursday while authorities sought to notify relatives. No one else was injured.

The salesman, whose identity was not released, told police he was home with his wife and two small children about 9:30 a.m. when a man and woman knocked at the door.

The visitors said they came to inquire about a car purchase, Welch said. The wife told the couple that business was not conducted at their home and when she directed them to the parking lot, the man pulled out a handgun and threatened to rob the family, Welch said. Another man then suddenly appeared and also attempted to rob them, he said.

The car salesman told police he managed to grab a revolver and that an exchange of gunfire ensued. Witnesses reported hearing about 10 shots, police said.

Two of the assailants escaped, and one intruder was found bleeding in the driveway outside the apartment complex, police said. He was shot twice in the upper body.

The other two intruders remain at large. Police described the woman as a Latina in her 20s, 5 feet 7 and wearing a blue sweater and the man as Latino, about 5-foot-8 with a mustache.

Investigators asked that anyone with information call Lt. Ted Labahn at (714) 254-1927.