Louisiana ? Police shot to death a man who had shot five people in a downtown law office and holed up in the building for hours, firing at officers and holding two victims inside.

Police set off five explosions early today to blow holes in the rear of the building. Repeated bursts of gunfire were heard, and Sgt. Ronnie Besson said several minutes later the gunman had been killed.

There was no immediate word on whether the two gunshot victims inside the building were alive. Two of the victims had escaped on their own and police rescued a third.

The shooter was identified by a neighbor and The (Alexandria) Town Talk newspaper as John Ashley, a 63-year-old former city worker.