LAGUNA BEACH : Woman Fires Shots, Then Surrenders
A 44-year-old Laguna Beach woman was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation Monday after firing four gunshots inside her Moss Point home and holding police at bay for several minutes before surrendering. No one was hurt.
The woman, who was described as despondent over the recent death of her husband, was taken to South Coast Medical Center after the 4 p.m. incident, Police Sgt. Lance Ishmael said.
A .22-caliber revolver and a suicide note were found in her home, he said.
The shooting began after a friend had driven the woman home from downtown Laguna Beach, Ishmael said. Police received a call that the woman--who they said may have a history of suicide attempts--had barricaded herself in her home.
When officers arrived, the woman was outside the home, holding the gun and yelling expletives, Ishmael said. She then went inside as five police units surrounded the house.
Several minutes later the friend, who was not identified, came out holding the gun.
“We got the gun away from her and went inside and subdued the despondent woman,” Ishmael said. “It probably would have been better for her to throw the gun outside first and then come out, but fortunately things worked out all right.”
No charges were made, pending results of the psychiatric exam, Ishmael said.
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