Gunman in custody after shooting at deputies, setting fire to Compton apartment

A suspect who shot deputies checking into a call of an assault with a deadly weapon is in custody after apparently setting fire to an apartment in Compton.

At least a dozen Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, several in tactical gear, surrounded the building in the 100 block of North Acacia Avenue, near Atlantic Boulevard. Sheriff's officials say the deputies were initially responding to an assault with a deadly weapon call at about 7:30 a.m. When they arrived they found a man with a shotgun wound to his knee on the stairwell. The victim told deputies that his friend had a shotgun. 

"They were trying to do a door knock on that location, and that's when they were received with that gunfire," Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Miguel Meza said.

None of the deputies were struck by gunfire or returned fire as they retreated to an adjacent unit, shortly before calling for backup. 

Video from Sky 2 over the scene showed blood and what may be a piece of clothing on the stairs leading to the second floor of the building. Residents were seen rushing out of the building. 

At least one person who had been shot was taken to a hospital. 

Deputies tried to reason with the barricaded gunman, 49-year-old Alrick Mcneese when another slew of 9-11 calls came into the Compton station. 

"People in the neighborhood were saying, 'Hey we can a smell a lot of gas,'" said Meza. "Deputy personnel on scene could smell gas as well."

An LA County sheriff's SWAT vehicle arrived on the scene, just before smoke was seen coming from the apartment at about 8:20 a.m. The suspect was taken into custody after crawling out of the burning apartment around 9 a.m. 

"It's Compton for you," said Kimberly Valdez. "What do you expect? It's not Beverly Hills. It could happen anywhere."

Gas lines to the apartment were believed to have been opened before the fire started, and the apartment was left gutted and smoldering.

The area remained closed to traffic. Four units are believed to have been impacted by the standoff and fire.