CEDAR PARK, Texas — The man holding family members hostage overnight after reportedly shooting three Cedar Park police officers Sunday surrendered Monday morning and is in custody.
The mother was the last of three hostages released by the suspect, and she is OK. Cedar Park police say the suspect came out peacefully around 9 a.m.
About an hour before the suspect surrendered, he released his sister and brother, but still had his mother inside the home, KXAN reported.
9:00am UPDATE: The suspect and last hostage have come out of the home peacefully. The scene will continue to be active for quite a while as we investigate. https://t.co/7Doy83CKjN
— Cedar Park Police (@CedarParkPD) August 17, 2020
In an earlier press conference, Interim Chief Mike Harmon said the brother and sister are “in good health” and were treated by emergency personnel to ensure that.
Harmon also said two of officers shot during the incident Sunday have been released from the hospital and sent home while the other is headed in for surgery.
“This is the most complex situation I’ve been involved with in 20 years,” Harmon said.
The Central Texas SWAT team and members of the FBI were on scene with Cedar Park police.
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UPDATE: MONDAY 8:00 A.M.
A nearly 18-hour-long standoff continued early Monday at a suburban Texas neighborhood where three responding officers were wounded in an exchange of gunfire. A suspect remains inside a home, holding three family members hostage, Fox 7 Austin reported.
As of 4:30 a.m. local time, Cedar Park Police directed residents on Natalie Cove in the Heritage Park subdivision to stay inside.
“It’s still unsafe to leave as we are working an active scene involving a suspect barricaded inside his home,” the tweet said. “Please do not leave until we say it is safe to do so.”
Officers have reportedly been in contact with both the suspect and the hostages, who are the suspect’s family members, and officials say it’s unclear what specific weapons the suspect may have at this time, Fox reported.
4:30am Update: If you live on Natalie Cove in the Heritage Park subdivision, you need to stay inside your home. It's still unsafe to leave as we are working an active scene involving a suspect barricaded inside his home.
Please do not leave until we say it is safe to do so. https://t.co/7Doy83CKjN— Cedar Park Police (@CedarParkPD) August 17, 2020
According to Cedar Park Interim Police Chief Mike Harmon, when the mother called she said her son kicked in the door and was acting aggressively. When officers went inside the home, the suspect opened fire.
One officer remains in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A law enforcement official tells FOX 7 Austin that the injuries to the officers include a gunshot wound to the arm, a shot to the chest that was protected by the officer’s bullet-proof vest, and a graze wound to the head.
The mother is now one of three hostages inside the home. One of the other hostages is under the age of 18.
During a press conference last night, Interim Chief Harmon said police have a history at the residence. He also said the suspect has been using social media, conducting a Facebook Live from inside the home.
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ORIGINAL REPORT SUNDAY AFTERNOON
CEDAR PARK, Texas — Three Cedar Park police officers were shot Sunday and a person remained barricaded inside a home in the city just north of Austin, authorities said.
The Cedar Park Police Department said on Twitter that officers were responding to a call at a residence when they were shot and one person was barricaded inside the home, KVUE reported.
A spokesperson for the department did not immediately respond to messages for comment.
In a tweet, the department said the three officers were at a local hospital in stable condition.
The suspect has not been apprehended as tactical officers have responded.
At this time we can confirm three Cedar Park Police Officers have been shot. They are at a local hospital in stable condition.
This remains a very active scene, the subject is not in custody at this time. https://t.co/7Doy83CKjN— Cedar Park Police (@CedarParkPD) August 16, 2020
Moreover, the incident could be a hostage situation with children inside the home, FOX 7 Austin reported, citing police.
A law enforcement source at the scene of the shooting told FOX 7 Austin that one officer was shot in the arm. Another officer was shot in the chest but was protected by his vest. A third officer has suffered a grazing head wound.
Law enforcement source at scene of CedarPark shooting tells @fox7austin
one officer was shot in the arm. another officer shot in the chest but his vest protected him , and another officer has a grazing head wound. pic.twitter.com/Jo8aoZtMyu— rudy koski (@KoskionFOX7) August 16, 2020
Police are asking people in the area to stay in their homes during the incident.
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