Gunman Slain in Battle With Police Outside Home

A man who was reportedly involved in a domestic dispute died after a brief gun battle with police outside his Hollywood Hills home early Monday, Los Angeles police said.

Officers said four rounds fired by police struck Bret Hughes, 47, but that he also might have shot himself.

The officers said they opened fire after Hughes pointed a gun at them, ignoring their repeated commands to drop the weapon.

The incident began about 2 a.m. when a caller reported domestic violence at the home. Officers said they found Hughes sitting in a vehicle parked in the 2200 block of Ridgemont Drive. He was holding a gun to his head and had a small dog on his lap, officers said.

At one point, Hughes got out of the car, pointed the gun at an officer and then turned the weapon back toward his own head, according to police. They said they fired four beanbag rounds that seemed to startle Hughes, who threw the dog on the ground and began firing at the officers.