ONTARIO, Calif. (AP) - An autopsy of a federal police officer who allegedly kidnapped a 13-year-old boy confirms he shot himself, investigators said.
David L. Clairmont shot himself in the head Saturday when Ontario SWAT officers ended a 10-hour standoff by entering a hotel room to rescue the sequestered boy, Detective Mike Macias said Monday.
Officers discharged tear gas under the door of the bathroom where Clairmont had retreated with the boy, prompting the teen to flee before the shooting, Macias said.
It was not immediately clear whether Clairmont died from his own gunshot because officers fired two rounds in response. The San Bernardino County coroner's office has declared it a suicide, Macias said.
Clairmont, 32, was a police officer with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Los Angeles. He was due in court Monday on felony charges of sex crimes involving the boy.
In uniform, Clairmont abducted the boy at a school bus stop Friday morning and then eluded police in a freeway chase at speeds up to 110 mph, police said.
