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LONG BEACH (CNS) - Detectives investigating the December deaths of a man and his 5-year-old daughter -- whose bodies were found following a nearly 10-hour standoff with police -- believe the man killed himself in his home after killing the girl, authorities announced Friday.
Officers were sent to the 3400 block of Adriatic Avenue about 2:40 p.m. Dec. 28 on a domestic dispute call, the Long Beach Police Department reported.
The suspect was identified by the LBPD as Chase Phillip Powell, 39, of Long Beach. The girl was identified as Aspen Powell by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, which listed her cause of death as "gunshot wound of head."
"After further review of the incident and available evidence, it is believed the suspect killed himself while his home was surrounded by police officers," the LBPD said in a statement Friday.
"It is not known if he knew officers were outside the residence," the LBPD said. "Officers were unable to make contact with the suspect."
According to the LBPD, the case has been classified as an "in-custody death."
"LBPD Policy Manual ... defines an in-custody death as `a death which occurs at any point in time when a person's freedom of movement has been denied by law enforcement, such as during arrest, detention, attempted arrest, attempted detention or while confined in any law enforcement vehicle or facility.' Given this was an attempted arrest, the department has classified this suicide as an in-custody death," according to the LBPD.
When authorities first arrived at the residence on Dec. 28, they noticed smoke and fire coming from the building, the LBPD said in December.
Around 12:25 a.m. Dec. 29, officers, who had obtained a search warrant, entered the residence and found Powell dead with an apparent self- inflicted gunshot wound, and they also found the child dead, police said.
"The preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect killed his daughter then killed himself," police said.
"This is a heartbreaking act of domestic violence that should not have happened," Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish said. "An innocent child has her life cut short and no words can replace the wonder and promise taken away from her."
Anyone with information regarding the case was urged to contact LBPD Homicide detectives Eric Thai or Alfredo Chairezat at 562-570-7244. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.