Homeowner kills robbery suspect in Apple Valley

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- An Apple Valley homeowner, identified as an off-duty police officer, shot and killed a robbery suspect Wednesday.

An investigation is underway in the 20000 block of Ochoa Road, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said. The police officer works for the Fontana Police Department and was placed on paid leave pending the investigation.

The sheriff's department received a call about a robbery in progress at 5:39 a.m. The homeowner said he woke up to find an armed suspect in his home attempting to steal his property.

After a brief struggle, the homeowner had the suspect at gunpoint, but the suspect "refused to comply with repeated commands to show his hands and lay on the ground," officials said in a news release.

When the suspect reached into his waistband, the homeowner opened fire.

A neighbor said the confrontation did not happen inside the home.

"He did wake up and he found some stuff missing. He actually confronted the guy that broke in. He was pushing his motorcycle," said neighbor Jamie Valenzuela. "I guess he got him to go back to the house and return his motorcycle, and on the way back, he noticed that he had his other gun."

Another neighbor said she heard the homeowner shout "Stay down ... Don't make me do it." Then she heard gunshots.

Paramedics responded to the scene and transported the suspect to an area hospital, where he was declared dead.

It was the second time this week that a suspect targeted the home of a law enforcement officer. On Tuesday, an off-duty LAPD officer awoke to find burglars in his San Gabriel home. He opened fire, wounding two suspects.