Former NBA, UCLA Basketball Player Dies In SWAT Standoff

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — A former UCLA basketball player was found dead inside a Sherman Oaks home after barricading himself for 11 hours, and may have shot himself, Los Angeles Police Department officials said Saturday.

The Los Angeles Times and ABC7 reported that Tyler Honeycutt took his life, according to a friend of the family.

"He was a fantastic kid," said Bort Escoto, who coached Honeycutt for four years at Sylmar High School. He told the Los Angeles Times he had recently been in contact with Honeycutt and his mother.

"He was a great kid to be around. But he was having some problems." Escoto told The Times. "From what I know, he shot himself."

LAPD officials said one of its SWAT teams entered the home and found the man unresponsive at 3:45 a.m. No gunfire from officers struck the man, police said.

Police got reports of a man with a gun in the 4900 block of Tyrone Avenue at 5 p.m. on Friday. The man fired at officers, who returned fire, police said.

According to ABC7, the suspect's mother called police to say her son was acting "erratically."

The suspect barricaded himself in the home and the SWAT team was called in, LAPD Officer Jeff Lee said.
No officers were injured.

--City News Service/Photo via Shutterstock

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK

From the American Association of Suicidology, a person might be suicidal if he or she:

• Talks about committing suicide
• Has trouble eating or sleeping
• Experiences drastic changes in behavior
• Withdraws from friends and/or social activities
• Loses interest in hobbies, work, school, etc.
• Prepares for death by making out a will and final arrangements
• Gives away prized possessions
• Has attempted suicide before
• Takes unnecessary risks
• Has had recent severe losses
• Is preoccupied with death and dying
• Loses interest in their personal appearance
• Increases their use of alcohol or drugs