Rooftop gunman dead after shooting at Sheriff's Department helicopter near Compton, authorities say

COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- Deputies opened fire on a man armed with a shotgun Thursday night after he shot at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helicopter while standing on the roof of a home near Compton, authorities said.

Deputies from the sheriff's Compton station responded about 7:45 p.m. to a report of an armed man possibly under the influence in a backyard in the 14600 block of Cahita Avenue, just south of Rosecrans Avenue, according to a news release.

The deputies arrived to find the 30-year-old suspect in the backyard, and he eventually made his way onto the roof of the home, authorities said.

"Deputies ordered the suspect numerous times to surrender, but he refused to comply. A Sheriff's Department helicopter arrived on scene and reported that the suspect was armed with a shotgun," the agency said in a statement. "They reported that the suspect was firing the weapon in their direction."

As the suspect continued to fire at the helicopter, two deputies on the ground opened fire, the news release said.

After being struck by gunfire, the suspect was treated by members of the sheriff's SWAT team and L.A. County firefighter-paramedics. Whether he was shot by deputies or himself was unclear.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. His identity was not immediately released. No first responders or civilians were injured.

Authorities initially said the scene was in the city of Compton. The location is in West Rancho Dominguez, an unincorporated area of L.A. County, just west of the Compton city limits.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.