Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ home was broken into on Sunday, with the intruder making it to the second floor at a time when there were no security officers present, according to Interim Police Chief Dominic Choi on Tuesday.
Choi explained that the break-in occurred during a shift change, leaving a short gap where no officers were on the premises. He stated that they have now implemented an overlap to prevent such incidents in the future.
The suspect, Ephraim Hunter, 29, was arrested on suspicion of burglary after breaking into Getty House, the official mayor’s residence. He smashed a window around 6:40 a.m. and climbed to the second floor where the bedrooms are located.
Reports indicate that Bass had to hide in a safe area during the intrusion. Choi defended the security measures in place, mentioning the large property size and the quick nature of the break-in.
Hunter, who has a history of assault with a deadly weapon, was said to be struggling with drug addiction and potential hallucinations at the time of the incident.
Charges were expected to be filed against Hunter, but specific details were not provided by Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón.
The security gap was described as very small, with the mayor’s security detail on its way at the time of the break-in. Bass has not disclosed many details about the incident but has expressed gratitude for the LAPD’s response.
Investigators have not revealed a motive for the break-in, and it is unclear if Bass was specifically targeted. Security cameras were installed on the property but were not actively monitored during the incident.
