Suspected Murderer Releases Hostage, Surrenders to Police

RIVER RIDGE, La. – A man wanted in the shooting death of sheriff's deputy surrendered to police after a standoff Friday and released an elderly man he taken hostage, police said.

John Lee Cheek, 31, who was also suspected in several Texas thefts, walked out of the hostage's home after about 30 minutes of negotiations, authorities said.

Dozens of heavily armed police officers had swarmed a suburban New Orleans neighborhood where Cheek was holding an elderly resident hostage, authorities said.

Neighbors said an elderly man named Cliff Lala lived alone in the house where Cheek was believed to holed up.