Armed Standoff Shuts Down Hollywood Boulevard, Nearby School

HOLLYWOOD, CA — An hours-long standoff with an armed gunman in Hollywood that closed off Hollywood Boulevard Wednesday ended when the man apparently shot himself, according to authorities.

The standoff shut down the busy thoroughfare for hours, and nearby Selma Avenue Elementary School was placed on lockdown as a precaution, according to Los Angeles school police.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a man armed with a gun was seen sitting in a vehicle in a parking lot in the 1600 block of Schrader Boulevard at about 8:30 a.m. The man refused to exit his vehicle prompting a standoff with police that lasted into the afternoon. A SWAT team was sent to the scene, and authorities attempted to induce the man to surrender.

Traffic was blocked on surrounding streets, and Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics were on standby.

It was not immediately clear what led to the standoff.

City News Service contributed to this report.