Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department: On Sunday, June 14, 2015, at approximately 12:25 a.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Industry Station personnel received a “possible domestic violence, check the welfare” call for service. Additional information lead responding deputies to contact a female adult, the wife of the suspect, at an undisclosed location. The wife informed the deputies she had been assaulted by her husband, that he was armed with a rifle, and that he had threatened to kill her and himself.
Deputies quickly formulated a plan and responded to the couple’s residence located in the 900 block of Willow Avenue, La Puente. At the location, deputies observed the suspect, a male adult, walking around the garage area of the residence with a rifle. As a safety precaution, a containment of the residence was established and neighboring residences immediately evacuated.
Deputies gave several verbal commands, however the suspect refused to cooperate, refused to comply with orders to relinquish his rifle, and refused to surrender peacefully. The suspect then barricaded himself inside the residence, beginning an approximate 12 hour standoff.
LASD Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) Special Weapons Team, along with LASD Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) personnel were on scene. CNT made dozens of attempts over the course of the entire incident to establish communication with the suspect. However the suspect was not responsive to the communication efforts, as he failed to acknowledge and comply. Additionally, SEB introduced gas into the residence and utilized a distraction device in order to gain compliance from the suspect.
After an extensive and constant effort by SEB Special Weapons Team, Industry Station deputies, and CNT, making all attempts to bring about a peaceful resolution, SEB deputies made entry inside the residence and located the suspect with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect’s rifle was recovered.
No deputies were injured.
The suspect’s wife was treated for minor injuries sustained during the assault.
The identity of the deceased suspect will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.
The investigation is ongoing and there is no additional information available at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Industry Station at (626) 330-3322. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
