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Deputies in Standoff With Shooter in Compton

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From a Times Staff Writer

A man suspected of firing a high-powered rifle at Los Angeles County sheriff’s helicopters in Compton on Friday night prompted deputies to evacuate dozens of residents and surround the gunman’s apartment building in a tense standoff.

Several shots were fired at the helicopter from the apartment building at Sloan Avenue and Elm Street at about 10:30 p.m., authorities said.

Sheriff’s deputies moved quickly to evacuate nearby homes and surround the building.

Someone in the building had called 911 earlier Friday to report shots fired, authorities said.

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News helicopter footage showed a man wearing what appeared to be a helmet and vest firing a rifle into the air numerous times. The man was also shown running between the porch of a two-story building and a black SUV.

Officers said they believed that the man had at least one child and others with him in the apartment during the standoff.

At 11:30 p.m., sheriff’s deputies still had the building surrounded.

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