'Why we need guns': Internet divided as cops swarm Newport Beach home after man shoots intruder dead during early hours
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
NEWPORT COAST, CALIFORNIA: A homeowner discharged his firearm as two men forcibly entered his $5 million, 4,709 square-foot residence while his family slept in the early hours of Tuesday morning, April 16, 2024.
Upon receiving a 4.45 am emergency call, heavily armed police rushed to the gated community situated off Newport Coast Drive and Pelican Hill Road.
They discovered one suspect deceased and another, armed and injured, in the middle of the street, as DailyMail reported.
What happened in the $5 million mansion?
The deceased intruder was found with a "self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head" shortly after fleeing the house, according to police.
Neighbors reported hearing "screaming" from the property, which they believed was being rented by a family of Chinese nationals.
Investigators suspect that the intrusion was a "targeted incident" involving the suspects and the homeowners, although their relationship remains unclear.
The injured suspect found in the street was transported to a nearby hospital, with his current condition unknown.
His accomplice was discovered deceased in nearby bushes.
The four individuals inside the home were safely evacuated and uninjured.
Police were observed outside the large residence, cautiously approaching the front door with firearms drawn.
Multiple officers, accompanied by a police dog, entered the home through the front doors.
While the motive for the invasion remains unclear, authorities have stated that it was not a random attack.
Sgt Steve Oberon stated, “This is a targeted incident - it is isolated. I want to assure the Newport Beach community, the residents, that this is a safe community and the Newport Beach Police Department is doing everything we can to ensure the safety of the community.”
Previous owners of mansion shocked by attack
The previous owners of the residence, Belle Tatsing and Sally Tatsing, expressed surprise upon seeing their former home featured in the news.
Belle remarked that occurrences like burglaries and home invasions are "uncommon" in the secure and affluent community.
"It was not a random invasion for sure," Belle stated.
Belle and her mother resided in the home, which they rented out until July 2022.
According to Zillow, the property was sold in January 2024 for slightly over $5 million.
The luxurious residence boasts six bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, a three-car garage, a pool, a patio, a walk-in closet, and breathtaking views of the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, the shootout on Tuesday morning prompted several reactions on the Internet.
One user claimed, “You do not have to right to take someone's life over material possessions. The person living in the house should have left the house and phoned the police. As far as I'm concerned, the "home-owner" should be charged with murder.” Another wrote, “This is why we need guns.”
A third added, “Oh, well. Good job homeowner. He defended his home and family. Live a life of crime or commit a crime, you suffer the consequences.”
Someone else commented, “The homeowner should be arrested and jailed .Victimless crime, probably a few kids from the neighborhood. Boys will be boys.”
Another user said, “You have the right to protect your home. nothing wrong with what the home owner did, a good guy with a gun finally won.”
This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online
