Standoff Ends with Suspect's Death

LA MESA (CNS) - A 15-hour standoff at a home in unincorporated La Mesa ended early today 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.