Gunman dies after US hospital siege

A gunman died after he opened the door to his Illinois hospital room at the end of a four-and-a-half-hour stand-off early today and pointed his gun at police, who opened fire.

The 58-year-old man, Johnnie Russell, died of a gunshot wound to the head. He appeared to have shot himself, but police were still investigating, Aurora Police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said.