Noisy Car Repair Ends in Shooting Death

A Sherman Oaks man attempting to fix his car on a Van Nuys street early Sunday was shot and killed by a resident who said he fired in self-defense after the man threatened him with a metal jack stand, Los Angeles police said.

Geraldo DeJesus Guzman, 23, was found dead about 4:30 a.m. in the doorway of an apartment in the 6800 block of Kester Street after he was shot once, Lt. Richard Blankenship said.

Guzman’s car broke down in the neighborhood and he was attempting to make repairs when the noise woke up a nearby resident, who armed himself with a handgun and went outside, Blankenship said.

The resident, whose name was not released, told police that he saw Guzman walking among several parked cars and asked what he was doing. Guzman picked up the jack stand and started walking toward the resident, who warned Guzman that he was armed, Blankenship said.

When Guzman did not stop, the resident fired a single shot, Blankenship said. Guzman died minutes later. Police said a witness gave a similar account.

The resident, who called police, was questioned and released. Blankenship said detectives believe that the resident fired in self-defense and will present the case to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office as a justifiable homicide. The final decision will be made by prosecutors.