SWAT called for armed man barricaded inside Pittsburgh apartment building with residents

PITTSBURGH — The residents of a Pittsburgh apartment building were considered hostages Wednesday night when an armed man barricaded himself inside, prompting a SWAT team to respond, police said.

It was around 10 p.m. when police were called for a hostile and armed man at the building on Collins Avenue in the city’s East Liberty neighborhood.

When officers got to the building, the man threatened to shoot and harm them if they got any closer. He then barricaded himself inside and refused to come out.

The SWAT team was then called in to help protect everyone else in the building, as they were considered hostages at that point, according to police.

“When there’s other people involved, residents in the building, that’s the top priority, of course, and that’s why SWAT was called in,” Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Cara Cruz said.

Paramedics and fire crews also went to the scene.

Authorities said SWAT officers were able to evacuate the hostages from the building and take them to a safe place.

Attempts to make contact with the man barricaded inside were unsuccessful, leading police to use gas munitions, officials said.

The man eventually surrendered and was taken into custody around 1 a.m. He was then checked by paramedics before being taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

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Cox Media Group