Chula Vista Standoff: One Person Shot & Killed, Gunman Holding Family [Breaking]
A Chula Vista standoff situation has forced police to evacuate 41 adults and 15 kids from an apartment building. However, a gunman is still believed to be holding a family hostage, according to authorities.
San Diego Union Tribune reported one person was shot and killed during the Chula Vista standoff. The SWAT team was called to the scene, surrounding a town house on Thursday, where a man, armed with a rifle, is suspected of killing one man and is holding his wife and two children inside one of the apartments.
Police believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute among the neighbors that quickly escalated and turned deadly when the gunman shot the man.
According to the report, residents called police at 7:40 a.m., reporting that they had heard up to 10 gunshots. Officers got there quickly and surrounded the apartment building after getting other residents out safely.
A SWAT team was at the scene of the Chula Vista standoff, where a suspect has reportedly shot and killed one person and has taken hostages. Police officers saw the victim in a parking lot, lying between two vehicles. A SWAT team used a Bearcat to enter the parking area about 8:30 a.m. and reported that the man was dead, but officers were not able to recover his body, the San Diego Union Tribune added.
Here are some dramatic photos of the Chula Vista standoff posted on Twitter. SWAT team members are seen surrounding the building and police has the streets nearby cordoned off.
#BREAKING #ChulaVista #SWAT about 20 residents evac’d. Still trying to contact suspect. pic.twitter.com/8KRKhDXx0U
— Fox 5 Sharon Chen (@sharonchenfox5) May 28, 2015
Update: Chula Vista crisis negot. back in touch w shooter holding 2 kids & woman hostage. Preparing for long wait! pic.twitter.com/7nnKMiViyl
— Itica Milanes (@10NewsMilanes) May 28, 2015
Police believe suspect in Chula Vista shooting may be armed with AK-47: http://t.co/4XMMeWtagf pic.twitter.com/sPtHWX5sEE
— 10News (@10News) May 28, 2015
The suspect in the Chula Vista standoff is inside a two-story town home and is believed to be holding his wife and two young children under the age of 10. Police negotiators are in contact with the gunman and are trying to convince him to let the hostages go.
“We’re trying to convince him to surrender and to surrender peacefully,” said Chula Vista police Captain Lon Turner.
Turner added the gunman has made no demands to negotiators and was not thought to be suicidal. The man did not answer police calls for several hours, but after they pleaded with him on live television, he picked up the phone after 1 p.m. More news on the Chula Vista standoff as they become available.
[Image via CBS 8 News/Twitter]
