WASHINGTON – The standoff between police and an armed man who barricaded himself in a Falls Church home ended just before 9 p.m. on Tuesday night, when the man surrendered.
The incident forced the area to be blocked to incoming and outgoing traffic, which impacted the Tuesday morning rush.
Police had originally responded to a domestic disturbance on Hillwood Avenue between Cherry Street to S. Roosevelt Street on Monday afternoon at around 4 p.m.
When police arrived, the man was distraught and had a handgun. Two other family members were removed from the home by officers before the man locked himself inside.
Throughout the night police turned off gas and knocked out the windows to the home. They also released a gaseous, non-lethal substance into home to make the air “unpalatable.”
One one point, the man did fire shots but no one was wounded.
The incident escalated and during the course of the 28 hour standoff the City of Alexandria Police Department, Arlington County Police Department, Arlington and Fairfax Fire and EMS, regional SWAT teams in addition to the Fairfax County Police all became involved.
Falls Church police thanked the community for its patience and support.
Additional notes from Falls Church Police:
- Residents of Hillwood Ave. may return to their homes.
- Eastbound Hillwood Ave. will be open by the morning rush hour. The westbound lane will remain closed as the investigation continues.
- Washington Gas is on the scene and is in the process of restoring gas utilities to all homes that experienced disrupted service.
- Residents of the Hillwood neighborhood will have regularly scheduled trash and recycling collection on Wednesday, June 27.
Follow WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
