Former Lakers player fires at intruders in Sherman Oaks home

A former Los Angeles Lakers player opened fire on three home invasion suspects who attempted the brazen break-in of a Sherman Oaks residence in broad daylight on Wednesday.

Los Angeles police confirmed on Thursday that former Lakers forward Christian Wood was inside the home on the 14800 block of Otsego Street when the three suspects broke through the back door around 1 p.m.

The would-be robbers were met by an armed Christian Wood, who fired three rounds into the ground, scaring off the intruders.

Investigators said the suspects, who remain on the loose, were last seen fleeing on Otsego Street toward Sepulveda Boulevard in a gray Jeep Cherokee.

Sky5 was over the scene as officers searched the property for evidence on Wednesday afternoon.

It did not appear that anything was taken from the home, and no injuries were reported.

Wood, who is from Long Beach, played for the Lakers from 2023 to 2025.

The incident is a shocking reminder for residents in Sherman Oaks and nearby Encino, who have been plagued by burglaries and robberies recently.

“American Idol” executive Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas DeLuca were murdered inside their Encino home during a July break-in. Investigators believe that Raymond Boodarian, now charged with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary, used the couple’s own gun to kill them and then called 911 on himself.

San Fernando Valley residents have called upon local leaders to do more to protect them from the increasingly violent break-ins.