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Gunman who committed suicide had fired 19 rounds at neighbor, killing him, police say

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The 42-year-old man who committed suicide after a standoff with SWAT officers had earlier fired 19 rounds from an assault rifle at a neighbor, killing him, Chula Vista police said Friday.

The suspected gunman, Michael Majerus, and the victim, Nicholas Reynolds, 43, lived in the same apartment building and had a “long-standing dispute over neighborhood issues,” police said.

Majerus opened fire as Reynolds was getting into his car at 7:40 a.m. Thursday, police said.

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Neighbors called police after hearing shots. Majerus retreated to his apartment and for more than eight hours he held his wife and their two children as hostages.

An hour after releasing the three, Majerus killed himself with a single shot to the head, police said. Along with the rifle, two handguns were found in the apartment.

Chula Vista police had been called to the apartment building twice before because of disputes between the two men.

Neighbors told Fox-5 San Diego that the disputes may have stemmed from Majerus feeling his family members were being bullied because of their small stature.

For more San Diego news, follow @LATSanDiego.

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