Man arrested over deadly stabbing in Tarzana, California

Police revealed the eerie 911 call that led them to Hollywood star James Handy after he was fatally stabbed in Los Angeles.

The 81-year-old character actor was known for his roles in films including Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji. His girlfriend’s son has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Officers responded Wednesday morning to a home in the Tarzana neighborhood after a 911 caller said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department. There, they found Handy unconscious in the front yard, suffering from a stab wound to his chest.

He was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Michael Gledhill, the 44-year-old son of Handy’s girlfriend, has since been arrested and booked at Van Nuys jail on one count of murder. Gledhill told officers that “he was the one they were looking for,” according to police.

Gledhill lived at the residence with his mother, police said. His bail was set at $2 million.

Handy made his film debut in 1981 and appeared in well-known movies including Bird, Arachnophobia, The Rocketeer, Logan and Suburbicon. He also appeared on a number of popular TV shows, including NYPD Blue, The X-Files and The West Wing.

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What we know so far about James Handy's death

Hollywood actor James Handy died this week after he was stabbed in Los Angeles, police said. Now, his girlfriend’s son has been accused of killing him.

  • Officers found Handy Wednesday morning after an individual called 911 and said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” the Los Angeles Police Department said.
  • They discovered Handy unconscious in the front yard of a home in Los Angeles’ Tarzana neighborhood. He was suffering from a stab wound to his chest, police said. He later died at a hospital.
  • His girlfriend’s son, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He lived at the Tarzana home with his mother, according to police.
  • After officers discovered Handy, Gledhill flagged them down and said “he was the one they were looking for,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Read moreKatie Hawkinson

Police reveal eerie 911 call that led them to James Handy

Officers found James Handy after receiving an eerie 911 call, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

“I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” the caller said.

Police said Handy was found unconscious in the yard of a Los Angeles home Wednesday, suffering from a stab wound to his chest. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Katie Hawkinson

Neighors say victim and suspect had been overheard arguing night before attack, Fox affiliate reports

Although investigators have yet to disclose a motive for the attack on Handy, neighbors have reportedly told local TV station Fox 11 that he and Gledhill had been overheard arguing overnight Tuesday and one resident claimed the latter had been suffering from “delusions” prior to Wednesday’s incident.

The network has also broadcast doorbell camera footage that it said showed the suspect calmly pacing the pavement as he waited for the police to arrive Wednesday morning, before returning to the scene in the company of officers.

(Fox11)

Joe Sommerlad

Recap: Son of Handy’s girlfriend arrested on suspicion of murder

Police have arrested Michael Gledhill, 44, following Handy’s death.

Investigators said Gledhill lived at the property with his mother, whom they described as the actor’s girlfriend.

Police said he approached officers responding to the scene and “told them he was the one they were looking for.”

Gledhill was arrested and booked at the Van Nuys jail on suspicion of murder, with his bail set at $2m, according to law enforcement records.

It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney. Jail records did not list legal representation for him and messages left with the county public defender’s office were not immediately returned.

Investigators said they believed the stabbing was “an isolated incident” and that there was “no danger to the public at this time”.

No motive for the stabbing was disclosed and police requested anyone with additional information about the incident to get in touch.

In a chilling detail released by the LAPD, the person who first called 911, possibly Gledhill himself, told the dispatcher: “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”

Joe Sommerlad

Recap: Hollywood actor James Handy fatally stabbed at Los Angeles home

If you’re just joining us, we’re covering the death of James Handy, the actor known for roles in films such as Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick, who was stabbed to death at his Los Angeles home Wednesday, police said.

The LAPD said officers from its West Valley division responded to a 911 call indicating “unknown trouble” at a property in Tarzana, in San Fernando Valley, at around 9:30 a.m. local time.

They found Handy, 81, unconscious in the front yard with a stab wound to his chest. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Shahana Yasmin has a full report.

Top Gun and Jumanji actor James Handy stabbed to death as girlfriend’s son arrested

Los Angeles police identify suspect as Michael Gledhill, the son of the veteran actor’s girlfriendJoe Sommerlad

Watch: Footage shows Handy murder suspect moments after actor stabbed to death

Footage shows James Handy murder suspect moments after actor stabbing to death

Joe Sommerlad

‘We were honored to have him’

More tributes have been paid to James Handy, with writer Don Winslow and entertainment journalist Jay Bobbin paying their respects.

Winslow recalls his “terrific” work on UC: Undercover and Bobbin his “unforgettable” turn in Sidney Lumet’s The Verdict opposite Paul Newman in 1982.

Joe Sommerlad

In pictures: James Handy in TV and film

The deceased played many parts in which he made an impact, adding authenticity to everything from The X Files to Logan and Top Gun: Maverick, which proved to be his final appearance.

(Channel 4)
(20th Century Studios)
(Paramount)

Joe Sommerlad

Obituary: James Handy: Hollywood’s ‘finest character actor’ with a dark army past

Here’s Lauren Moody on the life of a dependable character player who had many small but memorable roles in TV and film across a four-decades career in entertainment.

James Handy: Top Gun Maverick actor with a dark past

Handy appeared in a number of Hollywood hits, from ‘Taps’ to ‘Top Gun: Maverick’Joe Sommerlad

Watch: Bloody shirt seen in local media coverage from the scene

Man arrested for deadly stabbing in Tarzana

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