CARETAKER ARRESTED IN OWNER'S SLAYING.

Byline: JOSH KLEINBAUM Staff Writer

NORTH HOLLYWOOD -- A 76-year-old man was shot to death Monday by his 78-year-old property caretaker during a dispute, authorities said.

Chamras Thara, who owned a house at 13031 Burton St. and a rear house at 13037 Burton St., was shot once in the head in the garage of the rear house, police said. Hual Sripetch was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police believe the two were arguing in the garage. As the argument escalated, Sripetch pulled out a handgun and shot his landlord, police said.

Police responded to a shots fired call at 13031 Burton St. about 10:45 a.m. When they arrived, Sripetch was still in the house. Thara's wife directed officers to Sripetch, who surrendered immediately.

Paramedics and officers also went to the garage, where they found Thara's body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thara, a retired electrical engineer, has lived on Burton Street for more than 20 years. When his next-door neighbor moved out, he bought the adjacent house and hired Sripetch to live there and serve as property caretaker, said Larry Smith, a neighbor.

The two houses are connected by a gate with a sign that reads ``Welcome friends.''

Thara was active at the local Buddhist temple, Wat Thai of Los Angeles, and flew to his native Thailand for several weeks each year, Smith said. He'd always smile and wave at neighbors and was never too busy for small talk.

``He was a good neighbor,'' Smith said. ``He always referred to (Sripetch) as `old man.' The whole thing sounds crazy.''

Sripetch is being held at the jail at the Foothill Division, where LAPD Officer Pete Phermsngngam works. The two men spoke at the station Monday afternoon.

After their conversation, Phermsngngam visited Wat Thai of Los Angeles on Monday evening.

``He asked me to ask the abbot to pray for him,'' Phermsngngam said. ``I'm a police officer and a man of my word. Out of compassion, I did that.''

Officers were still investigating the nature of the dispute that led to the shooting, LAPD Lt. Geoff Taylor said. Sripetch is Thai and does not speak English. Police were waiting for a Thai translator early Monday afternoon so they could interview him.

``It's a very permanent way of solving a neighbor dispute,'' Taylor said. ``It's unfortunate.''

josh.kleinbaum(at)dailynews.com

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