Man shoots 5 people in San Fernando, fires at LAPD helicopter – NBC Los Angeles

A 61-year-old man is behind bars on Sunday after allegedly shooting several people in a residential building in San Fernando and later firing at a police helicopter during a barricade.

According to Lt. Walter Dominguez of the San Fernando Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 900 block of Orange Grove Avenue around 11:20 p.m. Saturday for reports of multiple shooting victims. They found the suspect, who had initially barricaded himself inside his home, Dominguez added.

Police discovered four gunshot victims in a residential building and later located a fifth victim who drove himself to a hospital, Dominguez said.

“During the standoff, the suspect reportedly fired at the Los Angeles Police Department helicopter that was providing air support to officers on the ground,” he said.

The suspect, identified as Martin Rodriguez of San Fernando, was eventually taken into custody with the assistance of officers and deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and Los Angeles police departments.

Rodriguez was charged with seven counts of attempted murder, one count of criminal threat, one count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling and one count of shooting at an aircraft.

His bail was set at $9.8 million.

The condition of the shooting victims and the motive for the attack were not immediately clear.