Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Christian Wood is at the center of a high-profile investigation following a daytime home invasion attempt at a Sherman Oaks rental property, where he reportedly fired a ghost gun with an illegal high-capacity magazine to scare off intruders.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the incident occurred around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, at a two-story Airbnb on Otsego Street. Three suspects allegedly broke in through the back door, unaware that Wood was inside the residence. LAPD officials described the event as a “hot prowl” burglary, meaning the home was occupied at the time of the break-in.
Wood, 28, confronted the suspects and discharged several warning shots into the ground, prompting the intruders to flee the scene in a getaway vehicle. No injuries were reported, and nothing was stolen from the property. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts corroborated Wood’s account of the confrontation.
However, the situation took a legal turn when LAPD investigators determined that the firearm used was a “ghost gun”, a privately assembled, untraceable weapon lacking a serial number, and was equipped with a high-capacity magazine, both of which are illegal under California law.
In a statement to authorities, Wood claimed the gun was not his and that he discovered it inside the Airbnb shortly after checking in. He told investigators he used the weapon in self-defense after realizing the home was being invaded.
“Christian Wood maintained he found the gun inside the Sherman Oaks rental property,” LAPD spokesperson Eric Leonard told NBC4 Investigates. “He fired three or four rounds at the ground, and the suspects ran away.”
According to law enforcement, the gun used by former Los Angeles Laker Christian Wood to defend his Sherman Oaks Airbnb from several felons attempting a home invasion robbery was a ghost gun with am illegal high-capacity magazine.
Wood claimed the gun was not his, and that he… https://t.co/BO0z7w3XoP pic.twitter.com/tRWJKRTM1s
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) November 17, 2025
As of now, Wood has not been charged with any crime, but the LAPD has confirmed that the firearm is under forensic review and that the case remains open. Legal experts note that while California law allows for self-defense in home invasion scenarios, the possession and use of an unregistered ghost gun could still result in criminal liability, depending on the circumstances.
Wood, who played for the Lakers from 2023 to 2025, is currently a free agent. Over his eight-year NBA career, he has played for multiple teams including the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks. He holds career averages of 13.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
The three suspects remain at large, and LAPD detectives are urging anyone with information to come forward. Meanwhile, the incident has reignited debate over the prevalence of ghost guns in Los Angeles and the legal gray areas surrounding self-defense with unregistered firearms.
