The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that authorities were startled by the cache of pistols, shotguns and rifles.
Advertisement
Officers received a report around 5 p.m. Friday about the discovery of the body in the 1700 block of Palisades Drive in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles Police Department officials said.
Los Angeles County assistant chief coroner Ed Winter said the man, whose name has not been released, was already decomposing when found. An autopsy was planned for Tuesday or Wednesday. Andrew Smith described the amount of firearms and ammo on scene as staggering.
Police said they do not suspect foul play and are not investigating the death as a homicide, but have not determined how the man died.
KTLA shares that the home had a couple living there, and neighbors indicate that they mostly kept to themselves. Many had never been fired and some were still wrapped in boxes, with price tags still attached. One neighbor termed the couple as being fairly secretive, and they did raise some suspicions among the other neighbors who had no idea that there were 1,200 guns in the home. Smith said there were no initial indications that the man had a criminal motive, no signs he was smuggling the weapons or plotting any sort of attack. Luckily, nobody was injured leading up to or through the search, and neighbors will surely be anxious to learn more about what was going on in the home.
Advertisement
While there is no absolute limit to the number of guns a person can legally own in California, LAPD spokeswoman Officer Liliana Preciado said investigators will check who was the registered owner of the weapons and if any of the firearms have been linked to any crimes.
