Police: Man shot himself in the chest

COSTA MESA — A man shot and killed himself in the parking lot of a local gun shop on Newport Boulevard on Sunday, Costa Mesa police confirmed Monday.

Ezra Fee, 34, who had a history of run-ins with the law, shot himself in his truck that was parked at the Grant Boys, 1750 Newport Blvd., said Lt. Rob Sharpnack.

A police officer patrolling the area about 4:30 p.m. heard a gunshot and screams coming from the Grant Boys’ parking lot. After calling for backup, the officer then approached the Dodge truck and found Fee with a gunshot wound to the chest, Sharpnack said.

Fee was transported to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and pronounced dead.

“It’s a tragedy, and you know it’s fortunate nobody else was injured,” Sharpnack said.

Police are still investigating where Fee got the gun. He did not buy it from Grant Boys, but in the past he had bought ammunition from the store, Sharpnack said.

Sunday’s suicide wasn’t the Police Department’s first encounter with Fee, Sharpnack said.

Last April, police responded to calls about Fee, who was firing a gun in his neighborhood in or around his apartment on Church Street, Sharpnack said.

Fee, who was intoxicated, was arrested, served 172 days in jail and was placed on probation for five years, Sharpnack said.

Sharpnack said he was unaware of where Fee obtained the gun used in the suicide.

Police are also investigating why Fee picked the Grant Boys’ parking lot to end his life.