A 63-year-old Florida man was taken into custody after a fatal shooting in Loxahatchee turned into an hours-long hotel SWAT standoff, authorities said.
Todd Wegrich, 63, was identified by authorities as the suspect in the deadly shooting, police said.
Palm Beach County deputies were called to the Arden community shortly after 3 p.m. Friday for a reported shooting, authorities said.
When deputies arrived at the Loxahatchee location, they found an adult woman dead from apparent gunshot wounds, police said.
The suspected shooter had already fled the scene before law enforcement arrived, according to investigators.
Investigators tracked Wegrich miles away to The Ben Hotel in downtown West Palm Beach, police said.
The suspect had allegedly barricaded himself inside a room at the luxury hotel, according to authorities.
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The standoff triggered a massive police response that required an entire section of downtown to be secured, officials said.
SWAT teams surrounded the hotel while officers with rifles took up positions on nearby rooftops, police said. Drones operated by police circled overhead throughout the standoff, according to authorities.
A bomb squad also responded to the downtown hotel scene, officials said.
Roads throughout the surrounding area were shut down during the operation, police said. Hotel guests and nearby residents were temporarily unable to access the area, according to authorities.
Officers worked for hours to resolve the standoff and get the suspect into custody safely, authorities said. Wegrich was eventually arrested at the scene, police said.
Authorities have not publicly identified the adult woman who was found dead, police said.
Investigators have not explained her relationship to Wegrich, according to officials. Police have also not revealed what they believe led to the fatal shooting, authorities said.
Wegrich has been booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder, records show.
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