Gunman takes hostages in Palmdale home, shoots himself

An armed man who held six to seven people hostage in a Palmdale home is in critical condition after shooting himself, authorities said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Weapons Team, along with other units, responded to a call of a barricaded suspect about 12:25 p.m. Saturday in the 3100 block of Avenue S-2.

Deputies immediately began negotiating with the man, who released all but one of the hostages.

Moments later a gunshot was heard and SWAT members entered the home to find a man suffering an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Sheriff’s spokeswoman Deputy Sara Rodriguez.

The remaining hostage was rescued, Rodriguez said.

None of the hostages were injured.

ALSO

Accused man freed after 11 years: How the case unraveled

Kern County residents struggle with devastation wrought by massive wildfire

What’s it like to ride a glass slide 1,000 feet above L.A.? We tried it out