Man wields shotgun, forces evacuation

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Police responding to a domestic dispute at an apartment complex in the 7200 block of Toulouse Drive were forced to evacuate several residents when a man began firing a shotgun in his apartment.

Matthew Michael Chapman, 30, of Huntington Beach, was taken into custody Monday morning for charges of assault with a deadly weapon and recklessly discharging a firearm, police said.

Police received the initial call just after 6 a.m. from Chapman’s girlfriend, who reported that Chapman had pointed a shotgun at her during a domestic dispute. The woman, who was not identified, was able to make a run for it and escaped the apartment uninjured, according to police.

Chapman then reportedly began firing the gun inside the apartment.

Police evacuated the surrounding residents before negotiating with Chapman who was finally convinced to surrender after about an hour.

The Orange County Register reported that Orange County Superior Court records show Chapman has received at least a dozen traffic tickets. One of these convictions, in January 2007, was for speeding greater than 100 miles per hour. The report also shows that Chapman pled guilty to public intoxication in October 2006.