A 29-year-old man suspected of firing a rifle at his roommates was arrested by La Mesa police after an hours-long standoff Monday night, an official said.

One of the roommates called 911 about 10:45 p.m. after the shooting started at the Blackton Drive house near Massachusetts Avenue, La Mesa police Capt. Matt Nicholass said. An unknown number of residents fled the home in fear.

When officers arrived, they determined the man had fired five rounds in the home. They tried to persuade him to come outside, but he refused and the SWAT team was called, the captain said.

Hours later, and with assistance from a handful of agencies, SWAT officers were able to talk the man into surrendering peacefully. He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Nicholass said.


Police did not say what prompted the shooting.

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