A man armed with an assault rifle who barricaded himself in a home with dozens of venomous snakes and other exotic animals Thursday died after a police standoff.
The standoff began around noon at a reptile farm near Southwest 344th St. and Southwest 212th Ave. in Homestead after the suspect fired a shot at another man.
According to investigators, the subject shot at one victim, who sustained minor injuries after being grazed by the bullet. The shooter then decided to make a snake house his strong hold.
Officers arrived and tried to communicate with the suspect. At one point, tear gas was used to try to lure him out but to no avail.
Almost seven hours later, members of the police's Special Response Team entered the home and found the man dead, his cause of death unknown.
The names and relationship between the victim and the suspect have not been released.
