The man who shot himself dead at the Universal Studios theme park on Friday was stalking his estranged ex-girlfriend, it has emerged. Police revealed it was not the first time the gunman, who has not been identified, had sparked security concerns at the park, where the mother of his child works in a restaurant. Last week he was escorted off the premises - just days after he vandalized his ex-girlfriend's car. But despite court orders banning him from the park in Hollywood, California, he was spotted  at 2.15pm near the water slides, where he shot himself dead in front of children and families. Chaos: Crowds were seen running around Universal Studios in Hollywood, California, not long after the shooting . Smoking area: The man was said to have shot himself in a secluded part of the theme park, near a Depiscable Me-themed ride . He was standing in a smoking area behind the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride at the time. Sheriff's deputies who rushed to the scene engaged the man in conversation but were unable to restrain him. 'The deputy tried to talk him out of it, but after going back and forth for 30 seconds or so, he shot himself, ' Lt. Eddie Hernandez told NBC. Four visitors witnessed the suicide, he said. Inside: This video from social media shows guests being herded inside the Despicable Me ride in the aftermath of the shooting . 'Suicide': According to reports, the man turned a gun on himself around the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, shown above . The ride was closed temporarily and guests were filmed being herded inside the ride by staff in the wake of the killing. Universal Studios has an official policy banning all weapons from its grounds, and searches guests before they enter. It is not clear how the man got past the checks. A parks spokesman told NBC Southern California: 'The safety and security of our guests is always of utmost importance. Business remains open.'
Man, who has not been named, turned gun on himself at 2.15pm .
His estranged ex-girlfriend, mother of his child, works at the site .
He visited the park twice last week, received two restraining orders .
Was standing by new Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride at the time .
Four visitors witnessed suicide, sheriffs tried to talk him out of it but failed .