Neighbor video captures dramatic, fiery Woodland Hills standoff that ended with suspect dead
Neighbor Donna Morgan said she rushed to the scene after seeing news coverage because her niece lives in a neighboring unit.
WOODLAND HILLS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Neighbors were left in shock Monday after a frightening hourslong barricade situation in Woodland Hills turned deadly.
Police said the incident began shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday when officers responded to a domestic violence call at a townhome in the 5000 block of Owensmouth Avenue. The situation escalated when a man barricaded himself inside the townhome, which later caught fire, and fired shots at officers from the inside.
Authorities said a woman believed to be the man's wife was also injured. In an update on Monday, police said she's expected to be OK.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Suspect dead after hourslong barricade escalates to Woodland Hills house fire with shots fired
Video recorded by a neighbor showed first responders repeatedly urging the man, identified by neighbors as Peter, to leave the home. Officers noted that the barricaded man was a registered gun owner, and guns were believed to be inside the residence.
"Peter, come out the front door or the slider," a first responder said. "Come out the front door so these firefighters can do their job."
Apparent gunfire can be heard in video from the scene.
Firefighters battled the blaze from a distance due to the possibility of being shot, according to authorities. No neighbors or firefighters were injured during the incident.
The man -- who has not been officially identified by authorities -- did not survive. The aftermath left significant damage to the complex.
Neighbor Donna Morgan said she rushed to the scene after seeing news coverage because her niece lives in a neighboring unit.
"I'm a nervous wreck because I thought it was part of my family," she said.
Morgan's niece spoke with Eyewitness News and said she contacted a neighbor named Peter during the incident and received a text message response.
"He said, 'Oh wow, everything's crazy. I'm so sorry. I promise everything's fine on my end.'"
Morgan also expressed gratitude for the emergency responders who handled the situation.
"They're the best. They work so hard, and we owe them everything," she said.
Officials confirmed officers deployed tear gas at one point during the standoff. The incident remains under investigation.
