LA Mayor's Break-In Suspect: A Troubled Past and a Targeted Attack

Ephraim Hunter, the suspect in the break-in at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' home, has a history of criminal behavior and is believed to have specifically targeted the mayor. Bass' German shepherd, Stax, played a crucial role in delaying the intruder and preventing access to the bedrooms.

Los Angeles Mayor's Break-In Suspect Arrested

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' German shepherd, Stax, played a heroic role in delaying and scaring a home intruder who breached her Windsor Park mansion during a security shift change in late April. The trespasser, identified as 29-year-old Ephraim Hunter, left a trail of blood after bashing a glass door and screaming "Karen!" multiple times as he attempted to access several bedrooms on April 22 before police detained him, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing law enforcement sources.

Another law enforcement source told the LA Times responding officers believed Hunter was high on methamphetamine during the incident. Interim Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi told the outlet that no officers were on the property during the break-in. Choi said a routine shift change in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) security plan schedule had led to a gap in protection.

While Bass waited for LAPD to arrive, her German shepherd Stax successfully interrupted Hunter and delayed him from breaking into a set of bedrooms on the mansion's second floor. The dog allegedly did not bite the intruder. Following the break-in, District Attorney George Gascón told the press that prosecutors believed Hunter was specifically targeting Bass, who was at home with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild at the time.

"We believe that he was targeting the mayor, but this is an ongoing investigation," Gascón said, adding that "there were actions while he was inside the property that are consistent with the fact that he knew this was the mayor's home, and that he was looking for her."

However, a high-level LAPD official said investigators were confused by Gascón's claim and suggested he was perhaps privy to details the investigators did not have. Fox News Digital previously reported that Hunter was held on $100,000 bail and faces two felony charges of residential burglary with people present and vandalism. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 13 years in prison. He is due back in court June 3. 

Hunter's criminal history includes burglary, petty theft, and drug possession. His father, who is a former police officer, said that Hunter has a history of mental illness and has been in and out of jail for years. He expressed concern that his son was not receiving the mental health treatment he needs.

The break-in at Mayor Bass' home has raised concerns about the safety of public officials and the effectiveness of security measures. The LAPD is reviewing its security plan and has increased patrols in the area. Mayor Bass has thanked her dog Stax for his role in protecting her family and has called for increased mental health services to prevent similar incidents in the future.