MARINA DEL REY : Man Wielding Rifle Is Slain by Deputies

A man who brandished a rifle at sheriff’s deputies after firing shots into the air was shot and killed by the deputies Tuesday outside his apartment in Marina del Rey, authorities said.

The incident occurred about 7 a.m. in the 14000 block of Panay Way after Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies responded to complaints of gunfire and surrounded the apartment, Deputy Larry Mead said.

The deputies ordered the man to put down the rifle, but he fired into the air and turned as if about to shoot at them, Mead said.

The man, whose identity was not released pending notification of relatives, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mead said deputies were first called to the scene about 5 a.m. after neighbors complained of music blaring from the apartment.

Neighbors said that the first shots were fired from the man’s balcony and that he then came down to the street and smashed a window with a bottle before the deputies arrived.