A man who was breaking into a car outside of an Anaheim home early Monday morning was shot and killed by the vehicle’s owner.
The incident unfolded around 5 a.m. in the northeast side of the city, according to a statement by the Anaheim Police Department, which investigated the incident. The homeowner’s vehicle was parked in his driveway when he looked outside and saw man inside the car.
The homeowner, whose wife and two children were home at the time, then grabbed a shotgun and went outside to confront the person. Authorities said a confrontation ensued and, at some point, the homeowner fired a single shot, striking the man’s in the chest and the man fled from the scene.
Soon thereafter, officers responding to a call from the homeowner, located the man not far from the home. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment, but later died from the injuries he sustained from the gunshot wound.
The suspect was later identified as 40-year-old Ryan Miller, of Long Beach. It’s unclear if he had a prior criminal history.
The incident remains under investigation by the Anaheim Police Department Homicide Detail. Immediately following the incident, the homeowner was not taken into custody and no charges were filed. However, the Press-Telegram reported that Roxi Fyad, spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, said prosecutors are reviewing information surrounding the case.
Residents in the neighborhood where the burglary and subsequent shooting occurred told reporters crime is an increasing problem in the area.
“They have stolen everything that hasn’t been glued down,” said neighbor Pam Yeager, 43, to the Orange County Register.
Yeager has lived in the home next to where the shooting occurred for four years and said property crime is nothing new. In fact, she said at least seven times she has had property stolen from her yard and car.
“It’s getting worse,” she said. “We don’t want criminals getting closer to our doors.”
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