Newport Beach homeowner shoots, injures intruder, 2nd suspect found dead, police say

A homeowner shot and wounded one of two suspects who entered his home in Newport Beach early today, and the second suspect apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Officers went to the neighborhood near Newport Coast Drive in the 100 block of Vista Luci at about 4:45 a.m., the Newport Beach Police Department reported.

According to police, the two suspects entered the residence in what investigators believe was a targeted attack, and the homeowner fired shots at them.

“We know that there is a relationship between the two suspects and the victims, the residents,’’ Sgt. Steve Oberon told reporters at the scene.

“It was a home invasion. Whether it was a robbery or what their other intentions are, I don’t know at this time.”

One of the suspects suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was found outside the residence in possession of a firearm and taken into custody, police said. That suspect was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.

Officers began searching for the second suspect, who was found dead in some bushes outside the home with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Oberon said. The names of the suspects were not immediately available.

Police said there were four people inside the home when the apparent home-invasion took place — a man, two women and a child. It was unclear which person fired the shots.

Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill said the outcome of the attempted home invasion should serve as a warning.

“I can tell you right now, if you come into Newport Beach to commit a crime, we will defend ourselves, and today is an example of that,” he said.