Deputy's Death Sparks Fiery Standoff

Aug. 31 -- A gunman shot and killed a sheriff's deputy today, then barricaded himself inside a home that caught fire and burned down several hours after police surrounded the building in a Los Angeles suburb.

Deputy Jake Kuredjian was shot as he tried to serve James Beck a warrant for his arrest at Beck's Santa Clarita, Calif., home at 8:30 a.m. local time. After shooting Kuredjian, authorities said, Beck barricaded himself in his home and fired at officers during negotiations for a peaceful surrender.

Almost four hours after the standoff began, a fire broke out in the home. Fire crews rushed to the scene, but police did not let them get close at first out of fear that Beck was heavily armed and would start shooting at them. Fire trucks concentrated on hosing down neighboring homes to prevent the blaze from spreading.

It is unclear how the three-hour blaze started. SWAT officers had surrounded the gunman's home, and lobbed tear gas inside. Smoke billowed from second-floor windows before the flames erupted. Authorities believe Beck torched the house himself, Sheriff's Deputy Harry Drucker said.

Gunman’s Fate Uncertain

Law enforcers hoped the fire would force Beck's surrender. But no one saw Beck leave the house, and police said he appeared to remain holed up as the home burned down. With the fire extinguished, Drucker said, fire crews hosed down what was left of the house to enable Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies to gather evidence and perhaps Beck's remains.

"The fire is now out," Drucker said during an afternoon press conference. "The fire department is hosing down the area so it can cool down and the sheriff's department can go in and gather forensic evidence and give an update on the status Mr. Beck or his remains."

Kuredjian was shot in the upper body as he was helping federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents issue an arrest warrant for Beck. Authorities were familiar with Beck, who had allegedly been impersonating a federal law enforcer and stockpiling weapons.