Sun Valley Man, 76, Arrested After Argument, Shooting Near Home

A 76-year-old Sun Valley resident allegedly shot a man in the head Sunday after an exchange of words about the victim’s drinking beer in front of the suspect’s home, police said.

William Smith was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in the 9:25 a.m. shooting in front of his home in the 9200 block of Ralston Avenue, Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Don Lehman said.

Two men were drinking beer in a car 20 feet from Smith’s house when Smith confronted them and a verbal altercation took place, Lehman said. Smith then allegedly shot one of the men in the left ear with a .357 magnum handgun, police said. The victim was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he was listed in stable condition.

Lehman said the victim could lose the sight in his left eye and the hearing in his left ear. Smith was apparently depressed over the recent death of his wife, he said.

“Unfortunately these guys were drinking beer at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Lehman said.

Smith was being held at Van Nuys Jail on Sunday evening.