LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Five people, including a Los Angeles police officer and the suspect, were killed in an overnight standoff in the San Fernando Valley, officials said Thursday.
The standoff began Wednesday evening after the suspect called 911 to report he had killed three family members, Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief and incident commander Michael Moore said during a news conference. The suspect was found dead in the home nearly 12 hours after the situation began.
Officer Randal Simmons, a veteran LAPD SWAT unit member, was shot in the head and killed as the tactical force broke through the front door of the home, the Los Angeles Times reported. Another SWAT officer was injured.
"It's a sad day in the city of Los Angeles to have lost an officer," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.
Throughout the standoff, "this suspect posed a continued threat by hiding himself ... and making every effort in our minds to further attack officers and ambush us," Moore said.
Police lobbed tear gas canisters into the home, consumed by fire and thick, billowing smoke.
After an exchange of gunfire "the suspect went down with injuries" and later pronounced dead, Moore said.
