Robber shot to death by victim
Police said a would-be thief was killed Saturday morning when the man he was robbing at gunpoint in his vehicle drew a handgun and shot him.
The robber, who has not been identified by authorities, was hiding behind a pole in a back alley near the 1200 block of East 104th Street. He jumped out and demanded money from a driver who was backing his car out of a garage, said Officer April Harding of the Los Angeles Police Department.
The driver shot his assailant, who died at a hospital.
Harding said there have been seven to 10 robberies in the area in a little more than a week and police are investigating whether the slain robber was connected with any of the thefts.
LAPD Officer Mike Lopez declined to identify the driver.
“Did a homicide occur? Absolutely,” Lopez said. “Was it justifiable? Detectives are still investigating that.”
-- Ari B. Bloomekatz
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
