Long Beach police SWAT officers were involved in a shootout with a suspect in a drug investigation in Cerritos today, and the man was found dead inside the residence several hours later, authorities said.
The incident began at 4:45 a.m. when Long Beach Police SWAT officers went to serve a narcotics warrant at the homee near Carmenita Road and 183rd Street because it was believed the man was armed and extremely dangerous.
"As SWAT officers arrived at the home, the man fied shots," said Brad Johnson, a Long Beach Police Department officer. "They returned gunfire immediately, secured the location, surrounded it with additional swat officers, and started evacuating the area."
No officers were injured in the exchange. Police entered the residence several hours after the standoff began, and they found the man dead inside with a gunshot wound to his upper body, Johnson said.
It was unclear if the gunshot wound was self-inflicted or the result of the gunfire exchanged between officers and the suspect, Johnson said. The fatally wounded man's name was not released.
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A total of 6 homes with about 20 residents have been evacuated. The police activity was near Cerritos Elementary School. The school was shut down and evacuated because of the standoff.
"They’re not letting anyone in or out, so we’re stuck here waiting to find out how much longer we have to wait," said Jon Ozenne, an evacuee. "I’m not sure what I’m going to do or where I’m going to go."