A Jefferson City man was taken into custody following a standoff with police that started late Tuesday night and lasted for about 90 minutes outside a Jefferson City apartment complex.
According to police reports, at about 10:30 p.m., officers responded to 911 calls of shots fired at the Broadmoor Apartment complex located at 505 Ellis Blvd. The callers claimed several shots were heard, along with a disturbance at an apartment within the complex. Further 911 calls indicated the suspect involved was threatening suicide and still armed with a handgun.
When officers arrived, they encountered the suspect, Heriberto Martinez, 34, in the parking lot and ordered him to show his hands.
Martinez refused multiple commands and began cursing and yelling at the officers to shoot him. Officers saw Martinez did have a handgun and he refused to drop it even after repeated commands to do so.
SWAT team members were summoned, along with the police department's crisis negotiations team, and after 1½ hours of speaking with the Martinez, he dropped the weapon and was taken into custody without further incident.
The investigation revealed Martinez was involved in a domestic disturbance with his girlfriend at this location just prior to the 911 calls and during the disturbance he discharged several rounds from his firearm and threatened to kill himself. Some of those rounds traveled outside of the apartment and into adjacent apartments, nearly striking a resident there. Martinez also made several statements he wanted police to kill him.
Martinez is facing charges of first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, felonious restraint and two counts of first-degree child endangerment.
EARLIER COVERAGE
One man is in custody following a standoff with police overnight that lasted for about 90 minutes outside a Jefferson City apartment complex.
Police responded around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday to Hidden Oaks Apartments, located off the 500 block of Ellis Boulevard, after residents reported hearing two gunshots and seeing a man with a gun standing outside along a driveway.
Officers set up a perimeter around the area and called in SWAT members for additional support. Initial reports indicate the armed man refused to give up immediately and began yelling at police but did not try to run away.
As the incident dragged on, officers attempted to negotiate with the suspect, and helped to evacuate residents from nearby apartments. Shortly after 12:15 a.m., police reported the suspect was in custody. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and an ambulance standing by at the scene was dismissed without treating anyone.