Man found dead after hours-long standoff, house fire in Hermosa Beach

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A man who barricaded himself inside a Hermosa Beach home for hours after a domestic violence incident was found dead, authorities said.

Events unfolded around 3:20 p.m. Sunday when police were called to 11th Street for a family disturbance. According to the Hermosa Beach Police Department, officers received a call about a woman screaming in the area.

Police said a man, who has not been identified, made several verbal threats towards the victim.

NOTE: The video above is from a previous report.

The woman and two children left the home to meet officers and tell them that the man had been violent inside the home.

"We believed he was armed, so we surrounded the house, made attempts to talk to him," said Hermosa Beach Police Chief Paul LeBaron Sunday. "Those have been unsuccessful so far. About an hour after our initial response, a fire started inside the house."

Police said the fire broke out around 4:30 p.m. The man still refused to come out. It's not clear if he started the fire.

Mindful of the possible danger from the armed man, firefighters stayed on the perimeter, battling the flames on the second story with hoses. The close proximity of other housing units increased the danger of the fire spreading rapidly, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.

Nearby homes were also evacuated as a precaution.

"We recognize it's Christmas Eve," LeBaron said on Sunday. "We recognize families are being disrupted. But we're doing everything we can to make it safe for them so they can get back to their houses as quickly as possible."

Marrone said firefighters were able to control the flames and prevent them from spreading to other homes, leaving the interior just smoldering.

At around 9:30 p.m., police officers and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau made entry into the home in an attempt to take the suspect into custody.

He was found dead inside, according to investigators. It's unclear how he died.

The family's dog was rescued during the incident.

Police said an arson investigation will be conducted by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.