Burglary Suspect At Large After Grappling With Homeowner Over Gun

BREA (CBSLA.com)  —  Brea Police are looking for a burglary suspect who broke into a garage Thursday and grappled with a homeowner over a firearm that went off during the struggle.

CBS 2's Michele Gile spoke to the homeowner who didn't want his identity revealed.

The homeowner -- named Chris -- told her he came home and confronted the suspect in his garage.

The two men grappled over the firearm. The homeowner said he saw his grandfather's old handgun in the suspect's front seat.

The gun went off during the confrontation. The victim was unhurt and the suspect escaped, according to Chris.

The incident happened around 1:20 p.m. in the 580 block of N. Brea Blvd.

Chris told Gile he drove up and found his garage door open and his belongings in the backseat of the burglar's car.

"Just initial fear and then an adrenaline rush," Chris said. "Seeing someone stealing out of your house when you come home. [Confronting him] probably wasn't the brightest idea. But in hindsight I didn't have a better plan. I jumped out of the car and confronted the guy."

Chris said he was able to confiscate the gun as well as a portable AC unit. He said he turned them over to police so they could collect fingerprints and DNA samples.

The suspect was also captured on video surveillance leaving in a black Honda, Gile reported.