Man Killed as He Grapples With Intruder

Seveno Tejeda Viallalobos, a 39-year-old Sun Valley resident, was shot and killed Thursday afternoon when he surprised an intruder in his home, Los Angeles police said.

The suspected slayer was arrested minutes later after he fought with the victim’s 15-year-old son and the family dog, then hid in a trash can, Officer Gary Hansen said.

Arrested on suspicion of murder was Luis Alvarado Lopez, 22, who was being held without bail late Thursday at the North Hollywood police station jail.

According to police, Viallalobos, his wife and son were returning to their home on the 7800 block of Cleon Avenue about 2:45 p.m. when the wife spotted the drapes being closed at one of the windows.

Viallalobos and his son entered the home and heard a noise from a bedroom, Hansen said. The son, who went outside to get the family’s German shepherd, then heard two or three gunshots.

The son went back in the house and confronted the intruder in the living room, Hansen said. They wrestled until the suspect broke loose and ran from the house.

The assailant was attacked by the dog as he ran through the front yard, however, giving the youth an opportunity to grab him again, the officer said.

The man broke free a second time but a witness to the struggle saw him hide in a trash can and alerted police when they arrived, Hansen said.

Viallalobos was pronounced dead at the scene.