Man Kills Himself At Universal Studios

LOS ANGELES—Andrew Thomas Jones, of Fullerton, shot and killed himself at Universal Studios Hollywood amusement park on Friday, April 3.

According to law enforcement, Jones, 38, was spotted at 2 p.m. by an ex-girlfriend, who is a Universal Studios employee. Upon sighting him, the woman, who’s identity remains private, called security officials to remove Jones from the premises.

Universal Studios
The man had a restraining order placed on him by his ex-girlfriend, an employee of Universal Studios Hollywood.

Per the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, the woman had placed a restraining order on Jones, prohibiting him from being in close proximity to her.

After the woman called security, sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene to search for her former boyfriend. When a deputy located Jones in a smoking area, she demanded he stand up and surrender. He produced a handgun from either his back pocket or waistband, a weapon he turned on himself, firing a lone shot that claimed his life by the time county firefighters arrived on scene at 2:24 p.m..

According to Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, the deputy that discovered Jones attempted to talk him out of suicide.

Jones, who shared a child with his ex-girlfriend, had two restraining orders placed on him after several conflicts near her place of work, including an incident in which he allegedly vandalized her vehicle.

Though Universal Studios Hollywood does not regularly subject visitors to metal detector inspection, Saturday’s incident, in which Jones smuggled a concealed firearm into the park, may force the park’s hand in tightening security measures.

“We are working closely with law enforcement and corporate security on this ongoing investigation,” a Universal Studios spokeswoman said in a statement. “The safety and security of our guests is always of the utmost importance.”