Lincoln Heights man dies after confrontation with burglar inside apartment

LINCOLN HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- It was a tragic end to one family's Fourth of July in Lincoln Heights, where a man in his 60s was killed in a confrontation with a burglar in his apartment.

Police say Jose Mancia died in a struggle with a would-be burglar inside his Lincoln Heights apartment. The confrontation occurred at about 9:30 p.m. Monday at 2008 Griffin Ave., according to police and the coroner's office.

Authorities said it was unclear if there was a weapon used or how exactly the victim was assaulted, but they believe he died from blunt force trauma.

Questions remain about what led up to the incident. Police said it started off as a burglary that led to some sort of confrontation. The victim's wife and 2-year-old daughter were both present in the apartment at the time.

The victim's grief-stricken wife told reporters that the suspect entered the home while she was "serving food." He pushed her into the bathroom and locked the door, she said, but she could hear fighting through the door.

Oscar Mancia, the victim's younger brother, said when he got the frantic call that his brother had been attacked, he felt helpless because his car was not working, preventing him from rushing to his brother's aid.

It was unclear if the male suspect stole anything from the apartment, but the victim's wife said she saw the suspect leaving with a bag. She found a receipt for a bank withdrawal of $30,000, but it was unclear if that money was in the bag.

"My brother, he was barely moving. It was hard for him to talk," Oscar Mancia said. "He said he tried to beat him with a cane that he used to walk, but that was the first thing I thought, 'This guy maybe hit him, and that's why he died.'"

The suspect, who was wearing a mask and dark clothing, fled the scene and remained at large Tuesday.

City News Service contributed to this report