Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Targeted in Home Break-In, Suspect Charged with Burglary and Vandalism

Los Angeles, CA, Monday, April 22, 2024 - LA Mayor Karen Bass and City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo unveil the 2024-25 fiscal budget at City Hall. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass found herself at the center of a disturbing incident last weekend when a 29-year-old suspect broke into her home, prompting authorities to charge him with burglary and vandalism.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón revealed on Tuesday that they suspect the individual was specifically “targeting” the mayor, although the motive behind the attempted break-in remains unclear.

The suspect, identified as Ephraim Matthew Hunter, a resident of Los Angeles, faces charges of first-degree residential burglary and vandalism.

According to Gascón, Hunter shattered a rear glass door in the early hours of Sunday morning to gain access to the Getty House, the mayor’s official residence located near downtown Los Angeles. Upon entry, Hunter reportedly sustained injuries from broken glass, leaving blood stains throughout the property.

Fortunately, Mayor Bass and her family, including her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild, were present in the residence at the time of the incident, but no injuries were reported.

“We believe that he was targeting the mayor,” stated Gascón, explaining that Hunter’s intentions seemed directed towards Mayor Bass, although specifics regarding how this conclusion was reached were not provided.

Hunter is currently being held on $100,000 bail as the investigation progresses.

In response to inquiries about security measures at the residence, Interim Police Chief Dominic Choi informed reporters that Hunter managed to break in during a brief gap when there were no security officers present, coinciding with a shift change. This lapse has since been rectified to ensure continuous surveillance.

Public records revealed that Hunter had previously been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon following a 2015 attack in Massachusetts, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence.

His mother, Josephine Duah, stated that Hunter claimed he entered the property under the belief that he was being pursued and sought refuge, unaware of the owner’s identity.

The incident draws parallels to a similar break-in at former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home in October 2022, where her husband was attacked with a hammer.

David DePape was subsequently found guilty of attempted kidnapping and assault. This latest incident underscores concerns about the safety and security of public officials and their families, prompting reassessments of protective measures.

Mayor Bass, a former Democratic member of Congress, assumed office as Los Angeles’ 43rd mayor in 2022, making history as the city’s first woman and second Black person to hold the position after former Mayor Tom Bradley.

The investigation into the attempted break-in at Mayor Bass’s residence remains ongoing as authorities seek to determine the full extent of the suspect’s motives and intentions.