Alleged Gunman Surrenders To SWAT Team In Torrance

TORRANCE, CA – The shooting suspect holed up in a Torrance residence in the 1000 block of West 222nd Street has surrendered to the SWAT team Wednesday. Authorities surrounded the area where the man who was suspected of firing shots at deputies was believed to be holed up.

Deputies from the sheriff's Carson Station went to the 1000 block of West 222nd Street about 10:35 a.m. on a report of a person with a gun and were immediately met by gunfire. They took cover and were not injured, according to Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

The suspect, a man about 50 years old, then allegedly aimed a handgun at a responding sheriff's helicopter, but did not fire, according to Navarro- Suarez.

The man dropped the firearm and ran into a residence, prompting a man and a woman who were inside to flee the home, the deputy said. Neither was injured.

A SWAT team and crisis negotiators were called to the scene and began trying to bring the standoff to a peaceful conclusion, but by mid-afternoon, it was still ongoing, according to Navarro-Suarez, who said surrounding homes were evacuated.

The pistol that the suspect dropped was recovered, but it was unknown if there were additional firearms in the home, or if anyone else was inside with the suspect, she said. It was also not immediately clear if the suspect lives at the home where he was holed up.

As a precaution, authorities ordered the lockdown of nearby Meyler Street Elementary School, at 1123 W. 223rd St. Students were later taken to Stephen White Middle School, 22102 Figueroa St., where they could be picked up, according to the sheriff's department.

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City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock