Barricaded man found dead in Agoura, officials say

A 69-year-old man was found dead in Agoura after being barricaded for more than five hours Sunday afternoon, officials said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Malibu/Lost Hills station received a domestic-abuse call about 10:50 a.m. A 65-year-old woman said her husband was choking her. When officers arrived in the 29100 block of Paiute Drive, the woman had safely left her home, officials said.

It was unknown whether the woman had left the home before or after she called, said Lt. Robert Wiard of the Malibu/Lost Hills station.

Sheriff's officials heard shots fired while on the phone with the woman and decided not to enter the home until they had a SWAT team available, Wiard said.

From 10:50 a.m. to about 4:15 p.m., sheriff's officers, a SWAT team and crisis negotiators tried to make contact with the suspect through phone and loud speakers but failed to do so, officials said.

When officers entered the home, they found the suspect dead with a gunshot wound, officials said.

The woman gave a statement about the incident, Wiard said.

The Homicide Bureau was notified and is investigating the death, officials said.

The area is near Malibou Lake.