Police said the unidentified man assaulted a woman before firing into the air when neighbors came to her aid.
SAN ANTONIO — A suspect at the center of a several hours-long stand off with police at an east-side apartment complex has been taken into custody.
San Antonio police patrol units, SWAT members and the K-9 unit could be seen at the apartments on Monday afternoon as law enforcement spent hours attempting to negotiate with a knife-wielding man who barricaded himself in an apartment unit.
The large-scale standoff happened at the 4600 block of Dietrich Road, in the area of Loop 410 and North WW White.
Police personnel could be heard using a loudspeaker to urge the unidentified suspect to surrender after he allegedly chased and pushed a woman to the ground while armed with a knife.
SAPD Sgt. Mario Montoya said neighbors of the apartment complex tried to help by “throwing stones and wood” at the man, at which point he brandished a pistol and “shot into the air several times.” As law enforcement arrived, police say the man managed to retreat into his apartment where he barricaded himself for hours before SWAT members were able to enter and make an arrest.
“Right now we know he’s in there,” Montoya said at around 6 p.m. “We’re just trying to communicate with him and get him out the best way possible. That’s what we’re standing by for.”
SAPD first responded even earlier in the day, on Labor Day morning, after people reported who officials said was the same knife-wielding man threatening landscape workers. They eventually left after determining no one was hurt and not finding the suspect.
A witness in the area recounted what he saw just before the barricade situation began.
“A dude with a knife, he was running and he goes, ‘I’m not afraid to die!’ He was waving it around,” the neighbor said. “That’s all I saw (before) I went back in.”
After hours of authorities attempting to negotiate with the man, police said he refused to cooperate, prompting a SWAT response.
Video captured the suspect being taken away by authorities. A SAPD spokesperson said the man did not suffer any injuries during the arrest but that gas was used as SWAT made entry in the apartment.
Two victims suffered minor injuries in the ordeal. Police said the suspect faces three charges of aggravated assault.
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