JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: Near Los Angeles, a man wanted for three homicides is in police custody following an early morning hostage-taking on the Santa Monica Pier. CNN's Jim Hill is following the story and joins us with the latest -- Jim.</s>JIM HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jeanne, a peaceful end to a situation that really began amidst chaos and violence on the Santa Monica Pier, which you can see behind me here. Santa Monica a beach community just west of Los Angeles. The gunman who had held 15 people hostage finally released the last two of those hostages about 2 1/2 hours ago, and then surrendered to police, essentially crawling out the window of an arcade on the pier, laying flat on the ground and being taken into custody without any further incident. Now, all of this began shortly after 1:00 in the morning on the Santa Monica Pier when Santa Monica police confronted two men who were wanted in connection with three separate homicides. Police say one of those men was taken into custody. However, they say the second suspect who turned out to be an accomplice to the prime suspect, ran from the scene.</s>CHIEF JAMES BUTTS, SANTA MONICA POLICE: He fled into the Playland Arcade, officers gave pursuit. As he exited the rear, officers were fired upon by the suspect. Three of them were hit. At least one civilian bystander was hit.</s>HILL: Now, the suspect took 15 people hostage after wounding the officers and a civilian bystander. Throughout the morning hours, negotiators for the police department, as well as SWAT team members, tried to convince the man to give up. Little by little, he did released hostages over the course of the morning, finally the last two hostages before surrendering himself. The man is identified as a 25-year-old hard-core gang member, according to police. They say he is wanted for three separate homicides, and now in addition to that also faces charges of kidnaping and attempted murder. Jeanne, back to you.</s>MESERVE: Jim Hill, thank you for the latest on that story.
Gunman Surrenders After Taking 15 Hostages on Santa Monica Pier