VERONA, Pa.,None — A man wanted on homicide and kidnapping charges was arrested in Verona on Tuesday after police said he fired shots at officers during a standoff.
VIDEO: Suspect ID'd; Wanted For Homicide, Kidnapping VIDEO: Suspect Surrenders
According to investigators, Frank Perez Jr., 30, was wanted in connection with a homicide in Lake County, Ind., and a kidnapping charge in Mexico. Investigators said he had been on the run for the past 12 years.
Channel 11 News has learned that Perez was tracked down in Texas in 2002, where he opened fire on authorities and somehow got away.
In recent weeks, the FBI tracked Perez to a home along Center Avenue in Verona. Agents went to the home Tuesday to try to arrest Perez, which is when they said he opened fire on officers.
Police said no one was hurt.
A SWAT team was called to the home, where Perez held police at bay for about two hours. FBI agents said Perez eventually surrendered to police without incident.
At least two dozen SWAT team members and FBI agents in riot gear responded to the area. Representatives of Pittsburgh police, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Allegheny County police, state police and the FBI were also called to the scene.
The FBI called Perez dangerous and said that he had high-powered and long-range weapons inside. During the standoff, residents were told to leave the area.
"He is very, very dangerous. This man is a killer," FBI Special Agent Jeff Killeen said. "He has proven he thinks nothing of firing at law enforcement, and so this is clearly a very dangerous situation. He has weapons that can fire for miles, and we`d like everyone to stay out of the area."
Cydney DeDominicis lives one block from where suspect was holed up.
"At first nobody really said anything to us,: DeDominicis said. "And then they started to scream and told us we had to move, we had to leave and that we weren't safe."
Verner Elementary School on First Street was on lockdown during the incident. The lockdown was lifted shortly after 5:30 p.m.
Investigators said Perez fired at officers from the front and back of the house. They believe that Perez was staying at the Verona home for at least a week.
Agents said Perez will likely face additional charges and will appear in federal court Wednesday morning. Channel 11's Gordon Loesch reported that Perez will then be sent back to Indiana.
Channel 11 News exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.
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