Father of 3 shot and killed by suspected burglar just days before Christmas
COVINA, Calif. - A father is dead after he and a group of neighbors confronted a man who they witnessed stealing from cars in their Covina neighborhood.
Around 11 p.m. Tuesday night, Covina Police officers responded to the 1100 block of N. Charter Drive after receiving a report of a suspect seen inside a vehicle committing theft.
(FOX 11)
A group of neighbors, made up of teens and adults, saw the suspect leaving the scene and confronted him in the 1800 block of East Covina Blvd, police told FOX 11.
Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.
During the confrontation, a fight broke out and the suspect brandished a handgun and ended up shooting one of the neighbors. The neighbor, identified as Joey Casias, 38, was pronounced dead at the scene. Casias' mother told FOX 11 that her son tried to break up the fight but was shot.
Lydia Casias said her son was a loving husband and father who cared about his community. A GoFundMe account has been made to help the family.
Credit: GoFundMe
A suspect who was wanted in connection to the shooting, 34-year-old Trevor Thompson, was placed in custody Wednesday night after leading officers on a lengthy standoff at a Covina apartment complex.
Covina PD found Thompson after receiving a tip that he was at an apartment complex in the 5100 block of North Bonnie Cove Avenue. At one point during the standoff, Thompson fired a round, Covina PD said in a press release. Thompson also climbed out of the patio carrying a handgun and tried to run away from the officers. One of the officers fired a nonlethal and eventually arrested Thompson.
RELATED: Man wanted in connection to shooting death of Covina dad of 3 in custody
The deadly shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information on Thompson or the deadly incident is asked to call Covina Police Detective Preciado 626-384-5622 or Crime Stoppers 800-222-8477.
Tune in to FOX 11 Los Angeles for the latest Southern California news.