A 911 dispatcher was lauded Monday for convincing a Pasadena gunman to surrender peacefully after he had allegedly fatally shot three people and wounded two others.
The shootings occurred about 4:20 p.m. Saturday, when John Izeal Smith, 44, opened fire in the 1700 block of North Summit Avenue (map), according to the Pasadena Police Department.
Smith fired on police officers responding to help one of the victims and then barricaded himself in a nearby home, police said.
During the ensuring standoff, Smith called 911 and spoke to dispatcher Diane Marin, who calmly talked him through his surrender in what police called a “20-minute tense dialogue.”
“I’ve never received a call from someone who had just committed a crime, especially of that magnitude,” Marin said during a Monday news conference. “Mainly I was concerned that this person still had weapons.”
Part of an audio recording of the call, in which Marin was assisted by a crisis negotiator, was released at a news conference at the Pasadena Police Department late Monday morning.
“They want you to come out with your hands up and they don’t want you to get hurt. … They don’t want you harmed,” Marin said in the recording.
“Tell them I’m coming out,” the gunman responded shortly thereafter.
No force was used to get Smith to comply, police said. He surrendered to Pasadena SWAT officers without incident.
“The shooting on Summit Avenue was a tragic and horrific incident. … However, the courage of our dispatchers, police officers, firefighters and community members who valiantly tried to help the victims is impressive and speaks to resolve of our community,” Pasadena police Chief Phillip L. Sanchez said in a news release.
Two of those killed were identified Sunday as Luis Aguiar, 91, and Maria Teresa Aguiar, 59.
The third victim’s identity was not being released pending family notification, a county coroner’s office official said Monday.
No officers were injured in the shooting, which police said may have come after a dispute between a tenant and landlord.
Two others who were hurt in the shooting had minor to moderate injuries, authorities had said Saturday.
The relationship between Smith and the victims was still being investigated, police said.
Police uncovered three of Smith’s firearms in connection with the shooting investigation — two assault rifles and one 1 semiautomatic pistol. Only one of the assault rifles was used in the shooting, according to police.
He fired more than 40 rounds, police said in a news release.
All three weapons were legally purchased, police said.
Smith was being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles, according to online county inmate records.
He was due in court in Pasadena on Tuesday morning.
Smith was originally described by police as 35 years old, but his correct age was provided Monday.
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