ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., a small police presence gathered in the Alameda neighborhood. That presence grew over the next hour to include multiple units, the SWAT Bearcat, and the Squad. A portion of South 7th Street, Pueblo Drive, and Alameda Street were blocked off throughout the evening. The standoff ended just after 8 p.m., when the suspect, an unidentified black male adult, was loaded onto a stretcher and into an ambulance with apparent injuries.
Stalemate underway in South Abilene
From 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., authorities called the suspect inside through a bullhorn and ordered him to come outside with his hands up; the same order was given to anyone else who may have been inside the home. Those multiple calls went unanswered, leading to further escalation.
Just after 7:00 p.m., gas was first sprayed into the house, and then the calls over the bullhorn increased in frequency and urgency. Authorities told the suspect that they would not leave until he came out. Less than an hour later, another round of gas was sprayed, and another call was made to inform the suspect that they knew he was in the attic and that it would only become more difficult for him to breathe. Just before 8:00 p.m., another round was sprayed through a side window.
A few minutes after 8:00 p.m., things started to move faster. The bearcat briefly retreated and returned to the house, breaking a side window and administering more gas. Around 8:12 p.m., another call was placed, ordering the suspect to “put the gun down” and come out empty-handed. Shortly thereafter, KTAB/KRBC crews on scene heard a short series of rapid blasts that have not yet been identified, prompting the SWAT team to move to the front and back of the house. All bullhorn calls ceased at this time.
The silence was broken a few minutes later by the arrival of an ambulance. The suspect, a black male adult, was removed from the home and loaded into the ambulance. Our team on scene said he did appear to be injured. The Abilene Police Department has not released any official information about his condition or that of the officers involved.
There is no confirmation yet if shots were fired or by whom. APD is expected to release more information as soon as possible. Continue to check BigCountryHomepage for updates as they become available.
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