A possibly armed assault suspect who barricaded himself inside a Hollywood motel room died from an officer-involved shooting, not a self-inflicted wound, authorities said Monday.
An autopsy showed Jerauld Hammond II, 46, died from multiple gunshot wounds and the manner was listed as homicide, meaning “shot by another,” according to the coroner’s website.
The Thursday standoff forced an evacuation of the Motel 6 in the 1700 block of Whitley Avenue and prompted street closures in the area, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officers went to the motel about 11 a.m. to investigate a report of an assault with a deadly weapon by a suspect who witnesses had said was armed with a handgun, said Los Angeles police Sgt. Barry Montgomery.
Police made contact with the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred, Montgomery said. It was unclear if any shots were fired by the suspect, who retreated into a motel room, according to the sergeant.
Witnesses told reporters at the scene they heard screaming, followed by gunfire.
Police evacuated all five floors of the motel and set up a perimeter to keep people out of the area while a SWAT team was deployed. No injuries to officers were reported. Around 3 p.m., a SWAT unit was seen leaving the area and police announced a short time later that the suspect had been taken into custody.
Montgomery then revealed that the suspect was dead inside the room with an apparent gunshot wound.
It was unclear if the wound was self-inflicted or if the suspect had been shot by police, Montgomery said at the time.
Attempts to speak with the suspect during the standoff were unsuccessful. Special equipment allowed officers to peer into the room, where the man appeared to be unresponsive, and he was found to be deceased when SWAT officers entered the room, Montgomery said.
