Man sets fire, kills self on balcony

A man shot and killed himself on his balcony Wednesday after setting fire to his apartment, Henderson police said.

Police dispatchers received simultaneous calls of a fire at an apartment at Remington Canyon apartments, 1000 American Pacific Drive, and a man waving a gun on his balcony at the same complex, said Keith Paul, a spokesman with the Henderson Police Department. Police were called to the complex, near Gibson Road, at 2:05 p.m. They arrived at 2:10 p.m., and the man shot himself shortly after, Paul said.

He said police were able to speak to the man briefly but never got into his apartment while he was on the balcony with the gun.

"The officer showed up. They tried to talk to him. He then killed himself," Paul said.

Residents of the building were evacuated, Paul said. The apartment was severely damaged in the fire, and other apartments sustained water and smoke damage.

Paul said fire investigators believed the man, whose age and identity were not disclosed, started several fires in his apartment.