US: Man shoots himself dead outside Despicable Me ride

The ex-boyfriend of a Universal Studios employee has shot himself in front of guests at the Los Angeles theme park.

The unidentified man reportedly put the gun into his mouth and pulled the trigger near the new Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride on 3 March, police confirmed.

A woman, who works at Mel's Diner inside the tourist attraction, called park security after seeing her ex-boyfriend in the park.

A policewoman confronted the man, who had two restraining orders against him after earlier incidents at the park. He then drew a gun and shot himself.

"The deputy tried to talk him out of it, but after going back and forth for 30 seconds or so, he shot himself," Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Lt Eddie Hernandez told reporters.

Several guests at the popular tourist attraction witnessed the suicide. Many other visitors to the park heard the shot, but did not witness the death.

Rosie Love, who had just been on the Despicable Me ride with her daughter, told NBC News: "Everyone was hysterical and praying. We heard there was a guy with a gun near one of the water rides."

The man was able to bring the weapon into the park because security search the belongings of guests, but rarely use metal detectors.

The theme park issued a statement following the incident confirming that they are co-operating with the shooting investigation.

Universal Studios, which attracts millions of guests every year, remained open.

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