SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — A man who took his mother-in-law and son hostage was found dead Wednesday morning in a West Los Angeles home.

The standoff began after a domestic argument just before 5 p.m. Tuesday at a residence in the 2900 block of Delaware Avenue in Santa Monica, KNX 1070′s Pete Demetriou reported.

Authorities say the suspect’s teenage son was able to escape shortly after the situation began and called 911.

The unidentified man released his elderly mother-in-law late in the night. She was unhurt.

Santa Monica police had been in contact with the suspect for several hours, but communication ceased early Wednesday.

The Special Weapons Team entered the home after 4 a.m. and found the 47-year-old suspect dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

His death was under investigation.