LBPD Offers Details on Fatally Shot Hostage Taker

The hostage taker that Long Beach police SWAT team officers shot and killed after he held in-laws 12 hours apparently did not brandish a weapon before they fired, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

"I do not have information that he brandished a gun," said Long Beach police spokeswoman Lisa Massacani. The police press release in its entirety:

On Friday, July 1, 2011, at approximately 12:15 p.m., Long Beach Police responded to a call to a residence in the 6100 block of Rosebay Street regarding a possible hostage situation that resulted in an officer-involved shooting.   

At approximately 4:00 a.m., the suspect, 36-year-old Michael Maguire, broke into the home of his estranged wife’s parents home on Rosebay Street. He physically assaulted one of the parents, and then tied them up inside the house. 

The suspect attempted to contact his estranged wife by telephone and finally made contact at approximately 8:30 a.m. by using one of the hostages to call her. Through the hostage, the suspect demanded that his wife bring their children to Long Beach, and stated that if she failed to do so, he would kill her parents. He also stated that he would kill them if she called the police, or if he saw any police. These demands continued for several more hours.

At approximately 12:15 p.m., the Long Beach Police Department received a call from the very distraught wife who reported what had taken place and the threats that were made. The woman also informed police that the suspect was known to carry guns and knives, and that there was also a firearm kept in the home.

Based on the investigation and working with other agencies who have had recent contact with the suspect, officers believed the threats to harm the hostages to be credible and proceeded with a plan to ensure the safety of the neighborhood without a noticeable presence to the suspect.

The Long Beach Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT) was activated and responded to the scene. The home, as well as the surrounding neighborhood, was secured by patrol officers and SWAT team members.

Based on the credible threat to kill the hostages if the suspect saw the police, resources were deployed in a concealed manner to avoid detection by the suspect. 

At approximately 4:00 p.m., the suspect and a hostage exited the house into the rear yard. Members of the SWAT team approached the suspect from a neighbor’s yard and confronted the suspect. 

The suspect immediately turned and moved towards the hostage who was a few feet away, and began to push the hostage inside the residence.  SWAT officers believed the suspect would carry out his threats if he got back inside the home, and discharged their weapons to stop the suspect and ensure the hostages would not be harmed or killed.

SWAT officers were then able to access the home, rescue the hostages, and determine that no one else was inside.  Paramedics who were standing-by at the Command Post then responded to the residence, and rendered aid to the suspect, who was pronounced deceased after having been struck multiple times in the torso. 

One of the hostages required minor medical treatment for the incident and was transported to a local hospital, treated and released. Both of them have cooperated fully with investigators and provided great detail of the harrowing ordeal they went through.

In addition to the on-going investigation by the Long Beach Police Departments Homicide detail, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is also conducting an independent investigation, as is routine for all officer-involved shootings that occur in Los Angeles County. In addition, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office will conduct a detailed investigation into the cause of the suspect’s death.  

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to call Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives David Rios or Roger Zottneck at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips can also be submitted via text or email by visiting the Department’s website, www.longbeach.gov/police.