Gunman dies after police return fire at apartment complex

By Jackie Valley

Published Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 | 8:06 a.m.

Updated Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 | 1:24 p.m.

An armed man who police say was trying to burglarize apartments Wednesday night in the northwest valley was killed by Metro officers after the gunman fired at police, officials said.

Metro spokesman Marcus Martin said police received numerous 911 calls starting about 10:45 p.m. reporting that an armed man was trying to gain entry into apartments within a complex at 9745 Grand Teton Drive.

"He was actively moving through the complex with a gun in his hand," Martin said.

The man, who nobody in the apartment complex recognized, was kicking doors and looking in peepholes as he made his way through the complex, Martin said. At one point, a resident contemplated jumping over an apartment balcony out of fear the man would gain entry, Martin said.

When officers arrived, the man shot at them, prompting officers to return fire, Martin said. The man was struck and died at the scene.

It's unclear how many officers shot at the suspect, whose name and age haven't been released, Martin said.

Neighbors say police evacuated the building where the gunman was shot in the Broadstone Montecito Apartments. An outdoor wall of the apartment building outside the door of a third-floor unit contained several bullet holes, with a large blood stain visible on the ground next to a stairway.

"I was completely shocked yesterday when I got the phone call to say 'don't come home,'" said Vona Strausbaugh, a resident in the building. "Stuff like this doesn't happen in this part of town."

Neighbors, who described the complex as a friendly and safe environment, were allowed to return home Thursday morning.

Metro will release the names of the officers 48 hours after the shooting. They were placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation, which is standard procedure in cases of officer-involved shootings.