Local News in Brief : Van Nuys Man Held in Shooting Incident

A Van Nuys man was arrested early Tuesday by the Los Angeles Police Department’s special weapons and tactics team after he shot at his wife and then barricaded himself in their home for several hours, police said.

Kevin Hodgins, believed to be in his mid-20s, was arrested about 2:30 a.m. on suspicion of felony spousal abuse in the shooting at the couple’s home in the 17400 block of Gilmore Street, said Officer Dan Mathews. He said police found Hodgins, armed with a loaded handgun, hiding under the house.

Mathews said police were called about 9 p.m. Monday after someone reported shots being fired in the neighborhood. When police arrived, they found a woman--identified as Hodgins’ wife--and her three children fleeing the home. Police said the woman told them that her husband had beaten her and then fired several shots at her. No one was injured in the shooting, Mathews said.

Police evacuated nearby residents and tried unsuccessfully to talk the suspect into surrendering. “He said he would kill any police officer that came on or near his property,” Mathews said.

The SWAT team was then summoned. After a two-hour standoff, SWAT officers forced their way into the house. When they did not find him inside, they looked under the house and found him there, police said. He was arrested without incident, Mathews said.

Hodgins was being held in the West Valley Jail.