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Dec. 17--LINCOLN HEIGHTS -- A man was shot and killed by deputies Saturday morning after allegedly lighting a couch on fire outside an apartment complex.
The fire happened shortly after 5 a.m Saturday on the 400 block of Solano Avenue.
Firefighters arrived on the scene to find the man standing next to what appeared to be a burning couch near the building. According to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Matt Spense, the 35-year-old man who was armed with a handgun,shouted "I have a gun!"
The firefighters took cover, fearing the armed man might have shot at them, according to a Sheriff's Department news release.
When deputies arrived, they found the suspect near a fire truck, allegedly shooting his weapon. After refusing to drop his gun, one of the two deputies then fired several times at the suspect.
Paramedics took him to a local hospital, where he later was pronounced dead just after 5:30 a.m.
Sheriff's officials have not released the man's name.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and no major damage was reported.
No firefighters or deputies were injured, Spense said.
Officials are now conducting an investigation into the shooting.
