Suspect Shot in Confrontation With Police

LAGUNA BEACH —  A 34-year-old Cypress man who reportedly drove into this city Tuesday to stage a murder-suicide was shot and wounded by police officers after he aimed a rifle at them, according to authorities.

The suspect, whose name was not released, was listed Tuesday night in serious condition at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo. He is expected to face charges of assault with a deadly weapon and weapons possession. No officers were injured.

A tipster told Cypress police Tuesday that the suspect was planning to shoot himself and others at a Laguna Beach home because he was angry about losing his job and a recent separation from his wife, Laguna Beach police said.

Cypress investigators passed the tip and address on to Laguna Beach police at 3:30 p.m., and by 4:15 p.m. plainclothes detectives here spotted the suspect sitting in a red Dodge pickup truck in the 900 block of Quivera Street, police said.

Armed with at least a handgun and rifle, the suspect left his truck and briefly approached a house on the street, police said. It was unclear if the suspect’s estranged wife lives in the house, but several neighbors said they had seen the truck in the area before.

Detectives confronted the man as he returned to his truck and tried to talk him into surrendering his weapons, according to police. The suspect at first aimed his handgun at his own head but then pointed his rifle at officers, who opened fire, police said.

It was not clear Tuesday night how many officers were at the scene, whether the suspect ever fired his weapons or how many times he was shot.

“Tests will be done on the suspect’s weapon to determine if he fired,” Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Doris Weaver said. “I don’t know how many times he was wounded. It looks like he’s going to make it, though.”

Three handguns and a rifle were still on the ground beside the truck as curious residents along the winding, ridgeline street gathered behind police lines. It was not clear if the weapons all belonged to the suspect. The rear gate of the truck was pocked with bullet holes.

Neighbors, some of them three blocks away, said they heard a short barrage of gunfire echoing through the neighborhood.

“I thought it was some sort of engine starting up at first, but then I realized it was more like explosions,” said Kristen Adams, a 14-year-old resident.

The shooting is being investigated by Laguna Beach police and also by the Orange County district attorney’s office, a routine procedure with officer-involved shootings.