Police Say Tenant Shot Landlord to Death in Self-Defense

WOODLAND HILLS —  A tenant, fearing her landlord was about to sexually assault her in her bedroom Thursday, killed the man with a shotgun blast, police said.

James Golido, 31, a stockbroker, was shot once in the upper torso and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, said Los Angeles Police Department Det. Rick Swanston.

Karen Walkden, 18, who had been living in a one-bedroom apartment connected to the garage at the rear of Golido’s house in the 22400 block of Dolorosa Street, called police shortly after 2:30 p.m. and told them of the shooting, Swanston said.

“She told police he was an intruder and she shot him in self-defense,” he said.

Walkden, who is unemployed, told police she had just reentered the apartment from taking out the garbage and was about to close the door behind her when Golido appeared, following her inside, Swanston said.

Swanston said Golido grabbed Walkden, but she broke free and ran to her bedroom, where she grabbed a loaded shotgun. He said Golido followed her, making comments indicating he planned to sexually assault her. When Walkden turned around, Golido “was right on her,” and she fired, Swanston said.

Walkden said she purchased the gun about two weeks ago after hearing noises she feared were made by prowlers around the apartment in the middle of the night, police said.

“She obtained it for self-defense,” Swanston said, declining to describe the shotgun.

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Walkden was interrogated at the LAPD’s West Valley station for several hours after the shooting but was released Thursday night. The investigation was expected to continue and will not be brought to the district attorney’s office for review until at least next week, Swanston said.

“At this point, the evidence at the scene is consistent with her version,” Swanston said.

Police said Golido and his wife, Yolanda, had asked Walkden to move out and complained that the woman and her boyfriend made too much noise. Walkden, who had lived alone in the backyard apartment for three months, had left a note for the Golidos on Thursday that she intended to move out next week, Swanston said.

There was no indication that Golido and Walkden had argued about her moving out, Swanston said.

Yolanda Golido arrived home as police investigated the killing and was taken away by her brother-in-law. Both declined to speak with reporters.

Neighbors said the Golidos moved into the house two or three years ago and were married six months ago. They described the couple as “nice people, quiet and conservative” who worked all day and mostly kept to themselves.

“He’s such a great guy,” next-door neighbor Michael Toofer said of Golido. “It was probably just an accident.”

Told that police said Golido attacked Walkden, Toofer said “That’s a shock.”