WOMAN HURT, MAN DEAD IN SHOOTING.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

A 54-year-old Canoga Park woman was critically wounded in front of her home by an ex-boyfriend Monday, who then turned the gun on himself and shot himself in the head, police said.

Police said Sherry Schwartz and the man, in his 60s, had dated for more than a year and had recently broken up.

Schwartz, who police said works as an Internal Revenue Service auditor, underwent surgery at Northridge Hospital Medical Center on Monday evening and was listed in critical but stable condition, police said.

The boyfriend had apparently hired a limousine service to take him to Schwartz's home in the 22300 block of Wyandotte Street at 6:30 a.m. Monday.

He directed the driver of the black Lincoln town car to park and wait.

They waited five hours and 45 minutes before Schwartz came out her front door.

The boyfriend spoke to her a few seconds, then grabbed her in a headlock, authorities said.

When Schwartz managed to break free, the man pointed a .38-caliber revolver at her and shot her in the chest and arm area before turning the gun on himself, said Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Officer Jason Lee.

At that point, the driver of the town car called 911, police said.

Detective Rick Swantson of the LAPD's West Valley Division said police are still investigating why the shooting occurred.

``We are not really sure of the motive,'' he said. ``We understand they have seen each other socially.''

Both Schwartz and the man were transported to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where the man was pronounced dead at 1:49 p.m., police said.

Neighbors said they recalled seeing a man in the neighborhood recently and wondered whether he was the same man responsible for the shooting.