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Suspect Killed By Officer During Domestic Violence Confrontation

SEBASTOPOL, Calif. (AP) — A police officer shot and killed a man Thursday during a confrontation at a Sonoma County apartment complex, authorities said.

A Sebastopol police officer was responding to a call from a woman around 11:30 a.m. who told dispatchers that her ex-boyfriend was pounding on her back door, said Santa Rosa police Lt. Craig Schwartz.

When the officer arrived at the complex he encountered the armed man and opened fire, Schwartz said.

Police did not say how many shots were fired or provide additional details, but neighbors told the Press Democrat that they heard five gunshots.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released pending notification of his next of kin.

Sebastopol is a small town just outside of Santa Rosa, or about 60 miles north of San Francisco.

Santa Rosa police were not involved in the shooting but were investigating, along with the Sonoma County district attorney's office, as part of a protocol for officer-involved shootings.

Sebastopol Police Chief Jeff Weaver would not comment on the incident but said it is the first shooting involving a Sebastopol officer in memory.

(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press)

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