A 79-year-old Vietnam War veteran, George Karkoc, faced a terrifying encounter with a naked intruder in Studio City on Friday. The incident unfolded when security cameras captured a naked man behaving erratically on Tujunga Avenue, attempting to enter a neighbor’s property.
Karkoc, a landlord in the area, called 911 as the intruder forced his way into a neighbor’s apartment, prompting screams for help. In response, Karkoc retrieved his gun. As the neighbor escaped, the intruder turned his attention to Karkoc, who tried to de-escalate the situation despite a language barrier. The intruder then attacked Karkoc, pinning him to the ground.
Despite suffering shattered bones in both legs, Karkoc managed to fire his gun, fatally wounding the assailant. “I pressed the gun against him and I fired… fired three times and the last shot… I made sure I was going to kill him,” Karkoc recounted to KABC.
Police suspect the intruder may have been under the influence or experiencing mental health issues. Karkoc now faces a challenging recovery, with mounting medical bills despite veteran’s benefits. His family has started a GoFundMe account to assist with expenses.
The Los Angeles Police Department plans to visit Karkoc in the hospital to honor his military service and bravery during the incident.
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