Barricaded Fullerton Man, Police Trade Fire
A suicidal man barricaded himself in his Fullerton condominium Thursday evening and exchanged gunfire with police before surrendering, police said. No one was injured by the gunfire.
Officers were called to the complex in the 2400 block of Daphne Place about 7 p.m. after Ernest Benefiel II barricaded himself in his bedroom and threatened to kill himself with a handgun, police said.
Officers evacuated several residents from nearby units and then attempted to negotiate with the gunman. After those efforts stalled several hours later, officers fired a beanbag projectile at the condominium, shattering a window and striking him in the upper torso.
The gunman fired three shots at police through the window and officers from the north Orange County SWAT team returned fire, said Lt. Alex Bastreri.
After the shooting, Bastreri said, the gunman climbed out of the window and surrendered.
Benefiel was treated at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton for bruises and booked at Orange County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer.
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