Fire breaks out at Compton apartment building after shooting, standoff; suspect in custody

COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- A man was hospitalized after being shot Thursday morning at an apartment building in Compton, where the suspected gunman also shot at responding sheriff's deputies, barricaded himself inside a unit and ignited a fire, authorities said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies responded about 7:30 a.m. to what was initially reported as an accidental shooting in the 100 block of Acadia Avenue.

A barricade situation ensued, and the sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau, the department's SWAT team, was summoned to the scene along with crisis negotiators. At least two snipers took up positions on nearby rooftops, their rifles mounted on tripods.

The man who was allegedly shot in leg by the gunman was transported to a hospital in unknown condition, authorities said. The victim, said to be the suspect's roommate, is expected to survive.

Trina Byrd, who lives in the neighborhood, said she heard "a couple of 'boom-boom' sounds" that she compared to fireworks. "But you know the difference," she said. "About two shots, and then a couple more about 30 minutes after. And I guess that was towards the police, once they started barricading in."

At one point, heavily armed deputies placed a ladder outside an upper-level window and helped a woman escape from inside the apartment building.

Thick black smoke was later seen seen rising from a second-floor apartment.

There were no reports of injuries to any law enforcement personnel.

Video from AIR7 HD showed deputies knocking on doors at nearby houses and apartments, informing residents of the situation and escorting them to safety.

"It's very scary because we don't have this kind of activity in this neighborhood," Compton resident Nechole Hurst said. "I've been here for two years and the most we have is parties and little kids playing the yard. I mean, we get up and I walk my dog every morning from here all around to the other couple of blocks. We don't have this problem."

The fire and standoff were ongoing as of 8:30 a.m. Shortly afterward, the suspect was taken into custody without incident and firefighters were cleared to approach the building to extinguish the flames.

The identity of the person in custody was not immediately released.

The circumstances that led to the initial shooting were under investigation.