Republished October 12, 2017 - 5:03 AM
Original Publication Date October 12, 2017 - 4:06 AM
WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. - A 16-year-old boy was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a Florida home Thursday morning, hours after he fired shots at police officers who had responded to a 911 call from his grandmother, according to police.
West Melbourne police announced the teen's death in a tweet at shortly after 6:30 a.m. Thursday.
Officers arrived at the home just before midnight after the grandmother called 911, telling dispatchers her grandson was throwing things inside the home. Police went to the neighbourhood and were interviewing residents of the house when the boy came out of a back bedroom and started firing a gun, according to a police report.
The officers retreated toward the front door with three other residents of the home as he kept firing. No one was injured and police did not return fire.
Police have not released the teen's name, but said on Twitter that he was "known to police."
A SWAT team surrounded the house all night and several nearby homes were evacuated. Police said on Twitter on Thursday that neighbours were being allowed back in, but roads in the neighbourhood will be restricted to local traffic as investigators continue to process the scene.
Two other occupants remained in the home overnight but safely got out early Thursday.
Melbourne is on Florida's Atlantic Coast.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017