Boyle Heights family, community shaken after violent attempted robbery

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A Boyle Heights family and neighborhood is shaken by a violent attempted robbery after officers shot and killed a suspect holding an elderly man at knifepoint.

A torn window screen and shattered glass show the violence that happened behind an apartment door.

"My dad was sitting in the living room when, suddenly, someone came into the house and grabbed him from the back and got a knife," the victim's son, who did not want to be identified, said.

Police said a robbery suspect broke into an apartment in the 1400 block of Gabriel Garcia Marquez Street at about 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. When police showed up, the man grabbed the 82-year-old resident inside and held him hostage with a knife to his throat.

"When I looked out my bedroom window I noticed that the suspect had the man with a knife on his throat, and he pulled him into another room," said one neighbor.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said neighbors heard the commotion and some were ready to take action.

"My information is that young folks had gotten baseball bats, and some other people had armed themselves with knives, and they were going to go into the house," Beck said.

Two officers were able to arrive and enter the home before any Good Samaritans were put in danger.

Beck said the officers believed the would-be robber might kill the hostage and fired a single shot, killing the suspect. He said police body cameras captured footage from the scene.

Those who live at the Pueblo del Sol Apartments said they were still in shock.

As for the victim's son, he said he is thankful as the situation could have been worse.

"Right before that instant, my mother came to my house," the victim's son said. "My house is about one minute away from my dad's house so, luckily, my mom was not there."

Authorities said although the victim suffered a few bumps and bruises, he was expected to be OK.