Police: Barricaded Suspect Shoots Woman, Kills Self October 3, 2008

SOUTH LOS ANGLES -- A man who barricaded himself inside a home in the Harbor Gateway area this morning after allegedly shooting his 18-year-old girlfriend has taken his own life, authorities said.



Police said they heard three gunshots coming from inside the house shortly after 1 p.m.

Shortly after, SWAT officers found the suspect dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, LAPD Officer Ana Aguirre of media relations said.


The standoff situation began around 8 a.m. at a home in the 600 block of Laconia Boulevard, said Officer April Harding of the Los Angeles Police Department.

It's believed the ordeal began as a child custody dispute.

Just after 8:30 a.m., a bloodied woman was seen crawling through an alley while a toddler walked ahead of her toward police.

The woman collapsed into the arms of officers on scene, who carried her and the toddler to another location.

At one point, a man appeared to be overcome with emotion and ran toward the house.

He was wrestled to the ground by officers and taken into custody.

It was not immediately known how that man was connected to the ordeal.

The woman was listed in critical condition at a local hospital, Harding said.

The child was not injured, officials said.

A man who identified himself as the suspect's brother told KTLA that his 19-year-old brother lived inside the house with his girlfriend and their child.

He also said the couple had been having problems.