In a dramatic turn of events, a former Los Angeles Lakers player thwarted an attempted home invasion by opening fire on three suspects in Sherman Oaks on Wednesday afternoon.
The Los Angeles police revealed on Thursday that Christian Wood, once a forward for the Lakers, was present at the residence located on the 14800 block of Otsego Street when the intruders forced entry through the back door around 1 p.m.
Faced with the imminent threat, Wood responded by firing three warning shots into the ground, successfully scaring off the would-be burglars.
Authorities reported that the suspects, who managed to escape and are still at large, were last spotted driving a gray Jeep Cherokee along Otsego Street heading towards Sepulveda Boulevard.
Aerial footage from Sky5 captured officers meticulously combing the scene for evidence on Wednesday afternoon.
Thankfully, nothing was reported stolen from the premises, and no injuries occurred during the incident.
Wood, who is from Long Beach, played for the Lakers from 2023 to 2025.
The incident is a shocking reminder for residents in Sherman Oaks and nearby Encino, who have been plagued by burglaries and robberies recently.
“American Idol” executive Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas DeLuca were murdered inside their Encino home during a July break-in. Investigators believe that Raymond Boodarian, now charged with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary, used the couple’s own gun to kill them and then called 911 on himself.
San Fernando Valley residents have called upon local leaders to do more to protect them from the increasingly violent break-ins.
