On Wednesday morning, Los Angeles police received a 911 call that sent them racing to actor James Handy’s home on Erwin Street in Tarzana: the caller said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” Officers arrived to find the 81-year-old actor unconscious in his front yard with at least one stab wound to the chest. Handy was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead. the suspect, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill—the son of Handy’s girlfriend—was arrested after allegedly flagging down responders and telling them he was the person they were looking for,according to the California Post.

‘I am the son of man’ — the 9 :30am call that broke the case

The chilling chain began at around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, when Los Angeles police received a call that investigators said they will likely analyze for additional details. According to the report, the caller identified himself and made the cryptic statement linking himself to the killing. Officers who responded found Handy in the front yard of his suburban home, and surveillance footage later showed a man casually walking past the property before the incident. The suspect, Michael Gledhill, then allegedly approached responding officers and voluntarily confessed that he was the one they should arrest.

Michael Gledhill, 44, held on $2 million bond — and a motive still unknown

Investigators confirmed that Gledhill lived at the same Tarzana home with his mother, Handy’s girlfriend. Yet the report says a motive for the stabbing remains unclear. Gledhill is currently being held on a $2 million bond. The arrest raises multiple unanswered questions, including what led to the violent confrontation, whether there were prior warning signs, and why Gledhill would calmly surrender after such a bizarre declaration. As of now, no court appearances have been scheduled, and the Los Angeles Police Department has not released a formal statement beyond the arrest details.

From ‘Ryan’s Hope’ to ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ — a Hollywood career spanning five decades

James Handy was born in New York City and made his first on-screen appearance in 1977, including a role on ABC’s Ryan’s Hope that same year. over the next five decades, he amassed more than 100 acting credits. Handy appeared in major films such as Jumanji (as the exterminator) and Logan (as the doctor treating Hugh Jackman’s titular character). His most recent big-screen role was alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick. On television, he had recurring parts on Melrose Place and NYPD Blue, and guest-starred on The West Wing, Castle, and The X-Files. His death has sent shockwaves through the entertainment community, which remembers him as a versatile actor who worked steadily across genres.

What surveillance footage showed and what police still need to confirm

The California Post report notes that surveillance video captured a man casually walking past Handy’s home around the time of the stabbing. Police have not confirmed whether that man is Gledhill, nor have they released details of any weapon recovered at the scene. Additional open questions include: Did Handy and Gledhill have a prior argument that day? Was there a history of mental illness or domestic tension in the household? And why did Gledhill use the phrase “man of sin” during the 911 call? These are all elements that investigators are expected to explore in the coming days.