Murder Suspect Arrested After Five-Hour Standoff

After a tense five-hour standoff, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies used tear gas early Tuesday to drive a barricaded murder suspect out of a motel room where he was trying to dig through a wall to an adjacent room.

Brent Haggeno, 33, of Lancaster, was arrested in connection with a fatal drive-by shooting Monday afternoon at the corner of Avenue J and Stanridge Avenue. Also taken into custody was his companion, 25-year-old Tammy Spargo of Lancaster, who surrendered shortly after the standoff began.

Coroner’s officials said the victim was 34-year-old Richard Mendoza of Sylmar, who had been standing in the street Monday when he was killed by a single bullet.

Witnesses gave deputies a vehicle description that led them to a minivan parked in front of the Motel 6 at 17th Street West and Avenue K, where Haggeno and Spargo had rented Room 122, according to deputies.

Spargo gave herself up soon after deputies arrived about 2:30 a.m., but a special weapons unit was called in after Haggeno refused to surrender. Meanwhile, the motel was evacuated.

At 7:30 a.m. deputies threw tear gas canisters into the room, forcing Haggeno out.

Haggeno and Spargo were taken to the Lancaster sheriff’s station, where they were being held without bail on suspicion of murder, deputies said.

Investigators searching the room found a revolver and ammunition they said may have been used in the shooting.

Deputies said the slaying was not gang-related or random, but they said they don’t know what relationship the suspects and the victim had.

“There may have been an exchange of words,” said Deputy Bob Killeen.

“What’s unusual about this case is that he was inside trying to burrow from one room to the next,” said Killeen. “But there was no chance of him taking a hostage or escaping. We had the place pretty well surrounded.”