A man broke into a Jewish family’s Los Angeles home and threatened to kill them before yelling, “Free Palestine,” Wednesday morning.
Officers were called to the Studio City home invasion at around 5:25 a.m. by the residents, who said they were locked in a room with their four children after the prowler broke into their home, according to KTTV.
The caller dialed 911 again minutes later to report that the intruder had threatened to kill them “because they were Israeli,” although their nationality was unclear.
Police arrived and arrested a half-naked suspect identified as Daniel Garcia, who looked directly into the cameras as he screamed “Free Palestine” and “Brown Lives Matter” while he sat handcuffed in the back of a police vehicle, as footage from the report showed.
Who Is Daniel Garcia?
Daniel Garcia is a local man who broke into a Jewish family home and threatened to kill them.
Officers were called to the Studio City home invasion at around 5:25 a.m. by the residents, who said they were locked in a room with their four children after the prowler broke into their home, according to KTTV.
The caller dialled 911 again minutes later to report that the intruder had threatened to kill them “because they were Israeli,” although their nationality was unclear.
Police arrived and arrested a half-naked suspect—identified as Daniel Garcia—who looked directly into news cameras to scream “Free Palestine” and “Brown Lives Matter” while handcuffed in the back of a squad car, footage from the report showed.
Speaking of the terror the family of six endured, the resident said Garcia first kicked in the door to her and her husband’s master bedroom.
“[He said] I’m going to kill you because you are Jewish… Israel kills people,” the victim, who is nine months pregnant, told KTLA.
Her husband then fought with Garcia as she ran to call 911.
After a few minutes, she said, her husband was able to push the man out of their home and into their backyard.
Police arrive, investigation begins
By the time police arrived on the scene, they reportedly found Garcia holding a kitchen knife. Fortunately, nobody was killed, and no injuries were reported.
Garcia has since been booked at Van Nuys Jail for stalking and criminal threats with a hate crime enhancement. He is being held on a $225,000 bond.
Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department say they believe Garcia entered the rear yard and kicked in the family’s back door to break in.
Victims shares story
The victim said she had seen him around the neighborhood before, adding that she believes her family was targeted because of the Jewish symbols around the house.
The family keeps mezuzahs on all their doors, and the homeowner said her husband wears a yarmulke.
She also suggested he was drunk as he hurled antisemitic remarks for about seven minutes straight, and police on the scene said they believed he may have been under the influence of drugs.
“Based on the investigation at the scene, this incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.
It added that “Garcia, possibly suffering from mental illness, acted alone, and his actions appeared motivated by the victim’s religious beliefs.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the intrusion “a vile act of hate.”
