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The suspect grabbed George and body-slammed him, breaking both of his legs.³ Despite repeated warnings, the intruder refused to back down.
“The 79-year-old man tells the suspect to leave, tells him I have a gun, and I will shoot you,” Los Angeles Police Department Captain Warner Castillo explained.⁴
But the intruder ignored the warnings, lifted George off the ground, and threw him again. George fired his weapon in self-defense.
Even the first shot failed to stop the attacker.
“The suspect got shot one time, and the suspect still approached the 79-year-old [who] shot the suspect again, killing him,” Castillo told reporters.⁵
This was not an act of aggression; it was a life-or-death response. George had no choice but to protect himself and the women in his care.
California law was clear: George acted entirely within his rights. Under Penal Code Section 198.5, residents do not have to retreat when faced with an intruder in their home.
A naked man capable of body-slamming a 79-year-old is not someone you can reason with. George warned him verbally, explained he had a firearm, and tried to de-escalate — but the intruder chose violence. George’s second shot was survival, not excess.
George is now recovering from surgery for his broken legs, injuries that could have been avoided if the intruder had simply left. Meanwhile, police praised his calm and measured reaction under extreme pressure.
Even with Los Angeles reporting a 14% drop in homicides and a 19% drop in shooting victims in 2024, property owners continue to live with real fears.⁶ Landlords and managers are increasingly attending self-defense courses to prepare for violent confrontations.
Former traffic officer Carrie Rios teaches these courses, emphasizing the risks landlords face from “irate tenants,” “transients,” and other threats. “In COVID a lot of people lost their jobs, they lost their family, and the last thing they have is their house,” she told a class. “You’re taking the last thing they have.”⁷
Dan Yukelson, executive director of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, admits there’s no research showing increased attacks on landlords — but fear alone drives them to train in combat and defensive tactics.
George wasn’t dealing with an angry tenant or minor dispute. He faced a naked intruder terrorizing the streets with no concern for anyone’s safety.
A witness described the bizarre scene: “I heard commotion, like a lady yelling,” she told reporters. “Then I looked over, and it was a naked guy. At first I thought it was just like, maybe it’s a house fire. Like, why is he out here naked?”⁸
Why someone would behave like this is irrelevant when a 79-year-old veteran is on the receiving end of a body slam.
George acted as any reasonable person would: he defended himself, the two women, and his property. California law supports his actions, and the outcome reflects the danger of choosing violence over common sense.
The two women escaped unharmed. George will recover from his injuries. And the naked intruder who refused to back down paid the ultimate price for his choices.
