LL Cool J teaches intruder a lesson

LOS ANGELES, United States of America – An alleged burglar was left with a broken nose, jaw and broken ribs after US rapper-actor LL Cool J confronted the intruder in the kitchen of his Los Angeles home, prosecutors said Thursday, August 23.

Jonathan A. Kirby, a 56-year-old transient, was hospitalized after being tackled by the 44-year-old rapper. Kirby broke into LL Cool J’s home in the early hours of Wednesday, August 22.

LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James), whose real name is James Todd Smith, is known to many as the muscle-bound former Navy SEAL he plays on “NCIS: Los Angeles.” He took no chances in disabling the intruder.

“Once James Todd Smith — also known as LL Cool J — came downstairs, he encountered the suspect in his kitchen,” said Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) spokesman Frank Preciado.

Exactly what happened next is unclear, but when police arrived, they found LL Cool J “in control of the suspect” he said, adding that officers handcuffed Kirby and took him to the hospital. The actor was not injured.

Asked if the star did the right thing, Preciado said, “In this particular case, the suspect did not have a weapon, (and) you have a victim who is in fear for their life, and a family member inside — in this case, his daughter inside the residence — (so) you’re going to do whatever is necessary.”

Kirby has been arrested a number of times for theft and disorderly conduct, according to the LA Times. The report also said that Kirby was jailed for 5 years for burglary in the 1990s. He served 3 years behind bars for a petty theft in 2005.

A publicist for LL Cool J issued a statement saying the actor “and his family are safe and thank everyone for their thoughts and concern.

“As a father, husband and citizen, he is committed to keeping his family safe and is cooperating with authorities on this private matter,” the statement added. – Agence France-Presse