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BIG BEAR, Calif. — The extraordinary manhunt for the former Los Angeles police officer suspected of three murders converged Tuesday on a mountain cabin where authorities believe he barricaded himself inside, engaged in a shootout that killed a deputy and then never emerged as the home went up in flames.

A single gunshot was heard from within. However, reports of a charred body found inside were later put into doubt by the LAPD who said it was too hot to search the cabin and that no body had been found.

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tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Fugitive ex-cop Christopher Dorner thought dead after cabin burns down, but no body found Back to video

That said, the police in the area are standing down and fire crews are moving in, implying that there is no longer a perceived threat.

If a body is found and proves to be Christopher Dorner, the search for the most wanted man in America over the last week would have ended the way he had expected — death, with the police pursuing him.

Thousands of officers had been on the hunt for the former Navy reservist since police said he launched a campaign to exact revenge against the Los Angeles Police Department for his firing. They say he threatened to bring “warfare” to officers and their families, spreading fear and setting off a search for him across the Southwest and Mexico.