Slaying suspect shot dead by Sunnyvale police

(06-05) 18:54 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Police shot and killed a homicide suspect who had been barricaded inside a Sunnyvale home Thursday morning, authorities said.

The shooting happened near North Fair Oaks and East Maude avenues about 9 a.m. after police entered the home and were confronted by the suspect, Glen Griggs, 53, who brandished a "long gun" at officers and ignored their demands to drop the weapon, authorities said.

Police called for paramedics to treat Griggs, who died at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose. No officers were hurt.

Less than an hour earlier, officers had surrounded the residence in an effort to serve a search warrant and arrest Griggs in connection with the killing of a female acquaintance, Molly Franquemont, whose body hasn't been found, said Capt. Jeffrey Plecque of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.

Franquemont had lived with Griggs and was 38 years old when she was reported missing in May 2013, police said. Investigators believed that Griggs had killed Franquemont, Plecque said.

"Based on the fact that it was a homicide investigation, yes, we definitely had concerns that there would be some difficulties encountered," Plecque told reporters.

Griggs initially refused to come to the door of his home, police said. A BearCat armored vehicle was summoned to the scene, while nearby schools were temporarily asked to "shelter in place."

The shooting is under investigation by Sunnyvale police and the Santa Clara County district attorney's office.

It was the third fatal shooting by Sunnyvale officers in the past year and a half, and the fourth overall police shooting to occur in the city in that time.

In September 2013, alleged methamphetamine dealer Juan Ruelas, 34, was shot dead by five Santa Clara police officers and a county sheriff's deputy outside a Sunnyvale restaurant after he "made a movement" that led them to believe he was armed, authorities said. No weapon was found, however, and Ruelas' family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit.

In August 2013, Michael Nehez, 68, stabbed his wife to death and was then shot and killed by Sunnyvale SWAT officers after he allegedly rushed at them with a knife. The officers were cleared of criminal liability by Santa Clara County prosecutors.

In December 2012, a Sunnyvale officer shot and killed assault suspect Jason White, 36, after he allegedly charged at them with a hammer. That officer was also cleared of criminal wrongdoing.