Los Angeles police were in a standoff outside a West Los Angeles apartment early Sunday with an armed man who apparently fired bullets recklessly near a street corner, authorities said.

UPDATE: Westside shooting suspect surrenders after overnight standoff, LAPD says

Police were evacuating residents inside an apartment building in the 1300 block of Brockton Avenue, just north of Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles police Detective Robin Jones told The Times. Police dogs were also called to the scene.

The suspect, described as a man between the ages of 25 to 30, was reported shooting a gun near Brockton Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard about 9:20 p.m. Saturday.


“He was receklessly firing a gun in the air. A citizen saw him and flagged down police,” Jones said. “Once he spotted the police looking at him he took off.”

Despite media reports late Saturday that the suspect was possibly a sniper, Jones clarified that the man was not a sniper and there was an active search to find the shooter.

“There was never a sniper involved,” she said.

Streets near the area of Rochester and Texas avenues were closed during the ongoing investigation.


Twitter: @NicoleCharky