Man Charged with Breaking into LA Mayor Karen Bass’s Residence, Knowing It Was Her Home
A man with a prior conviction in Massachusetts has been charged with breaking into the Windsor Square residence of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Investigators believe the suspect, Ephraim Hunter, 29, of Los Angeles, knew it was the mayor’s home and specifically targeted her.
Hunter has been charged with one count each of first-degree residential burglary with a person present and vandalism causing damage of $400 or more. Prosecutors also allege a prior strike for Hunter stemming from a 2016 robbery conviction in Massachusetts. District Attorney George Gascón said Hunter faces up to 13 years and four months in prison if convicted as charged.
Hunter pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon. He is due back in court May 6 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Gascón told reporters that based on Hunter’s actions inside the home, investigators believe he knew the Getty House estate at 605 S. Irving Blvd. was the mayor’s official residence, and he was specifically “targeting” Bass during the break-in.
The break-in occurred around 6:40 a.m. Sunday, with the suspect breaking a glass door and entering the home while the mayor was inside with her daughter, son-in-law, and recently born grandson, Gascón said. According to the district attorney, Hunter cut himself on the broken glass while entering the residence and left blood stains throughout the home. Police said the break-in triggered an alarm that alerted police. Hunter was arrested at the scene without incident.
Los Angeles Police Department Interim Chief Dominic Choi told reporters that the break-in occurred during a shift change among security officers at the home, so there were no security personnel present at the time. However, he said that given the size of the Getty House property, even having a security officer there may not have prevented the break-in, which occurred through a back entrance of the home.
Choi noted that the mayor’s standard LAPD security detail was scheduled to begin its duties at 7 a.m. Sunday and was heading to the home when the break-in occurred.
A woman identifying herself as Hunter’s mother told the Los Angeles Times that she spoke to her son from jail following his arrest and said Hunter had no idea the house was the mayor’s residence.
In 2015, Hunter was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and assault and battery for allegedly joining three other people in attacking a man in Massachusetts. According to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, the assailants attacked the victim with a hammer and a snow brush. Police found the victim unconscious, and he was taken to a Boston hospital and survived his injuries. Hunter and three other suspects were found in a van with a hammer, a shoe believed to belong to the victim, the victim’s pants, and some blood in the van’s door area, according to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.
According to court records, Hunter was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison. Speaking to The Times, Duah insisted her son was innocent in that case, saying he was present at the time but did not take part in the assault.
Mayor Bass thanked police for their quick response and said investigations are ongoing.
