SHERMAN OAKS, CA — NBA free agent and former Los Angeles Laker Christian Wood reportedly stopped an attempted home invasion in broad daylight by firing several rounds that scared off three suspects at an homein Sherman Oaks.
The incident occurred just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Wood was inside the home when he heard suspects attempting to enter through a back door. In response, he fired three to four shots into the ground, which caused the intruders to flee. No injuries were reported and nothing was taken from the home.
The suspects, described only as three individuals dressed in dark clothing and hoodies, fled the scene in a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee and remain at large.
The home, located on Otsego Street near Kester Avenue, was a short-term rental. One neighbor, interviewed on-scene, expressed surprise that someone staying at the rental had a firearm.
Although Wood’s quick response appears to have prevented the suspects from entering the home, the decision to fire warning shots raises safety and legal concerns. In general, discharging a firearm as a warning can be legally risky and tactically unsound. Firing into the ground or air may endanger bystanders and does not necessarily stop a threat. The law typically allows the use of deadly force only when facing an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.
In California, the use of a firearm in self-defense is permitted only under strict circumstances, and firing warning shots can sometimes lead to criminal charges if authorities determine the action was not legally justified. As of now, police have not indicated whether any charges are under consideration.
As for the response itself, it’s fortunate that no one was harmed and that the suspects fled before causing further harm. While warning shots are legally risky—particularly in states like California—and discouraged, it’s understandable why someone might choose to act decisively in the face of an active home invasion. The key takeaway for gun owners is to be prepared not just with the means to defend themselves, but with a solid understanding of the legal landscape surrounding use of force.