Local News in Brief : Man Found Fatally Shot After Holding Ex-Girlfriend Hostage
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A gunman who broke into his former girlfriend’s Studio City home Thursday, holding her hostage for several hours before she escaped, was later found dead of a bullet wound in the head, Los Angeles Police reported.
It was not immediately clear if John Wagner, 39, committed suicide or if he was shot by the police SWAT team that had ringed the house, said Sgt. Ike Langsam of the North Hollywood Division.
Wagner was found dead from a single head wound in the home in the 114376 block of Decente Drive shortly before 8:30 p.m., Langsam said.
He said Wagner had forced his way into the home about 7 a.m. and held hostage his former girlfriend, who was not identified, until about 3 p.m., when she escaped after Wagner fell asleep.
The woman then contacted police.
The SWAT team was called and surrounded the house.
After several hours of attempting to contact the man, the officers entered the house, he said.
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