Police rescued seven people from an apartment building after exchanging gunfire in an overnight standoff with an armed intruder who was later found dead, apparently killed by officers' bullets.

Police identified the suspect Monday as Charles Jennings, a 32-year-old Syracuse man who was released from prison on parole last month after serving time for a drug conviction.

Authorities believe shots fired by officers killed Jennings, Syracuse Police Chief Gary Miguel said Monday.

Jennings broke into a second-floor apartment late Sunday above a neighborhood grocery store on a block lined with vacant buildings and older homes, Miguel said.

Jennings pistol-whipped three people inside after demanding money from them, Miguel said. The men told investigators they didn't know Jennings, and police said they don't know why they were targeted.

At some point, two of the men managed to escape to an apartment across the hall and call police.

Jennings had a .357 magnum and fired five shots from an upper window and a lower doorway after officers arrived, Miguel said. A police officer was the first to fire after seeing Jennings point his handgun at another officer. In all, three officers fired 15 to 20 rounds, the chief said.

Police had no communication with Jennings after that, he said. Continued...