La Mesa SWAT stand-off ends after suspect kills self

LA MESA (CNS) – A 15-hour standoff at a home in unincorporated La Mesa
ended early Tuesday with the discovery that the domestic violence suspect who had
kept a sheriff's SWAT team at bay had shot himself to death, authorities said.

The suspect, a 47-year-old man accused of threatening to hurt his
fiancee and himself, holed up alone in the home in the 9900 block of Grandview
Drive around 10 a.m. Monday, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's
Department.

Just before 1 this morning, authorities sent a robot inside the
residence and discovered that the man was dead of an apparent self-inflicted
gunshot wound in the master bedroom, a sheriff's department statement said.

The man, who had at least one rifle, randomly fired shots throughout the
day — some inside the home and a few toward the armored SWAT Team truck
known as the Bearcat, authorities said. No injuries were reported.

Neighboring homes were evacuated during the standoff, and authorities
warned residents of homes within one mile to remain indoors and keep their
windows, curtains and blinds closed.

Grandview Drive was closed in both directions until shortly after the
SWAT action ended early today.

Authorities used Murdock Elementary School as a command post during the
standoff, but the school was expected to open as normal this morning.