Barricaded Gunman Routed by Tear Gas, Seized

An unidentified man held off police and a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department special weapons team for almost five hours early Wednesday before he was forced out of his house by tear gas, law enforcement officials said.

The incident began when Bell Gardens officers answered a 12:10 a.m. complaint that a man was seen carrying a semiautomatic weapon at 6018 Loveland St., Sgt. John Andrews said. When an officer arrived at the house, Andrews said, the man began firing an AK-47 semiautomatic assault weapon at him.

The man, whose identity was withheld by police, then barricaded himself in the house and began shooting at police who had surrounded the home. At that time, the sheriff’s special weapons team was called to assist local officers, Andrews said.

At 5 a.m., police evacuated neighboring houses and fired several tear gas canisters into the home where the gunman was hiding. The tear gas canisters set off a small fire in the house, which was quickly extinguished by firefighters waiting at the scene, Andrews said.

The gunman, who surrendered to sheriff’s deputies, was turned over to the Bell Gardens Police Department, Andrews said. There were no injuries in the five-hour standoff, Andrews said.