A gunman, who engaged police in a 5-hour-long standoff in an apartment close to San Diego International Airport, has finally been taken into custody, UPI has reported.
The gunman had been firing shots from the balcony of an apartment close to the busy airport early on Wednesday, preventing any commercial flights from either landing or taking off. He was identified as 33-year-old Titus Colbert, and was taken into custody around 2.30 p.m., according to KTLA. The arrest ended a standoff between Colbert and a SWAT team that lasted for 5 hours and caused panic among the residents.
Before the SWAT team was called in, police officers had responded to an emergency call from a woman who called to report that her ex-boyfriend had gotten into her apartment, according to San Diego Police Department Chief Shelley Zimmerman.
"She was fearful and she called," said Zimmerman during a news conference. "She made the exact right call."
Two officers rushed to the apartment, got no response after knocking, and decided to try opening the door. Suddenly, shots were fired at the officers, with a bullet barely missing one of the officers, according to Zimmerman.
The other officer returned fire, and they both retreated before SWAT was called in.
The SWAT team upon arriving, set up a perimeter around the area, and then deployed flash grenades and tear gas to smoke out the suspect, according to Business Insider.
"Eventually, the suspect did surrender and he was taken into custody. We did find two weapons at the scene: one looks to be an AK47-type weapon ... and a handgun," Zimmerman said.
Flights resumed normally at the airport afterwards, and police said they would be charging the suspect with attempted murder for shooting at a police officer.
