California man shot to death by neighbor after setting fire to grandparents’ home, police say

The 40-year-old man was reported by his mother to be armed with a gun, under the influence and suicidal.

A man who apparently set fire to his grandparents’ Menifee home and resisted officers’ calls to surrender was killed Saturday, Dec. 30, when he slipped out of the residence, broke into a neighbor’s home and was shot by that resident, the Menifee Police Department said.

The 40-year-old man was reported by his mother to be armed with a gun, under the influence and suicidal, said Lt. Paul Barbieri, a police spokesperson. He said police believe the man did not live at his grandparents’ home in the 27000 block of Early Dawn Road but that they allowed him to stay there occasionally.

Barbieri declined Sunday, Dec. 31, to describe the confrontation between the man and the neighbor as that continues to be investigated. The resident was cooperating with police, Barbieri said. No arrests have been announced.

The man’s mother called police with her concerns about 3:30 p.m. The family safely evacuated the house, leaving the man alone inside. Police called on him to surrender, but just after 5 p.m., smoke began billowing out of the garage and the home became engulfed by flames.

Minutes later, a neighbor called to report that he had shot a man who broke into his home. Officers went inside and found the man, who later died.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Barbieri said the man was able to leave his grandparents’ house because officers did not surround it as there was no evidence a crime had taken place.

“The suspect had only threatened to harm himself, and his family vacated the property, so no one else was in immediate danger,” Barbieri said. “Officers were out to the front of the home trying to communicate with him so we could provide him with help during his crisis. Unfortunately, the suspect did something in the home which caused a fire to start and he managed to get out of the home while officers were focused on summoning resources to contain the fire.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 on your phone or by visiting 988lifeline.org. Help and resources are available 24/7, 365 days a year.