CARSON, Calif. (KNX) — A Long Beach man wanted in a series of shootings, carjackings, and one kidnapping died Thursday night from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a standoff with police at a Carson church, where he had taken several adults hostage.
The 29-year-old suspect’s alleged crime spree began in Long Beach, where officers received multiple reports of shootings, carjackings, and a kidnapping that happened within the span of 15 minutes.
Officers were called at 7:16 p.m. to a shooting in the 200 block of East 57th Street. Detectives learned the suspect shot another man at that location before shooting at a woman and carjacking her vehicle in an attempt to flee the area, but her vehicle shut off, prompting the suspect to try and find another getaway car, police said.
The male victim was taken to a hospital in stable condition and the woman was unharmed, according to police.
Moments later, a shooting in the 80 block of East 55th Street was reported. Police said the suspect shot another man in his upper body, and that victim was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
The suspect was then believed to have carjacked another woman in the 100 block of East 55th Street. Police said the suspect pointed a firearm at a woman and got in her vehicle while she was still inside.
During the carjacking, the suspect was accused of shooting a male bystander, who suffered a graze wound to his upper body, but the man was able to take himself to a hospital.
The suspect then kidnapped the carjacking victim, forcing her to drive him to a church in the 21600 block of Alameda Street in Carson, police said.
Around 8:30 p.m., officers established a perimeter and had a SWAT team respond to the church, where the suspect had taken the carjacking victim and several additional adults, who each had a relationship with him, police said.
While SWAT was on scene, the carjacking victim was able to leave the building unharmed, but the others remained inside, police added.
“A hostage negotiator attempted to make telephonic contact with the suspect and negotiate his peaceful surrender,” police said. “While attempting to de-escalate the situation, SWAT personnel heard gunshots.”
SWAT entered the building and found the suspect with self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the upper and lower body. The suspect was taken to a hospital, where he died, police said.
The additional adults were found unharmed inside the church by SWAT.
The motive for the suspect’s crimes was under investigation.
The suspect’s name has not yet been released by authorities.
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