Suspect With Guns Reportedly Holding Hostage Inside Whittier Apartment
WHITTIER (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say an armed man is holding a hostage inside an apartment in Whittier.
The incident -- first reported about 4 p.m. -- is taking place at an apartment building at Bright Avenue and Whittier Boulevard, according to officials.
Police said the man "was armed with a weapon," reported Sky 9's Stu Mundel.
Sheriff's deputies and SWAT helped evacuate nearby neighborhoods.
Mundel also reported SWAT was called to the scene to help diffuse the hostage situation.
Dozens of residents were first told to shelter in place but as negotiations with the man dragged on, residents were evacuated.
KCAL9's Brittney Hopper spoke to some of the nervous residents.
"Everyone was running out of their apartments," said Andreas Perez. "It was kind of scary."
Police told some of the residents that a man who lived inside the apartment was holding a woman hostage. They also said they believed he had two guns.
"It's really scary," said neighbor Irving Dominguez. "We're not safe, we're not safe. Looking at all this, it's we're not safe anywhere."
Neighbors told Hopper they could not identify the suspect or the woman he was reportedly holding hostage.
"You can never really related to it, until it hits close to home. It's really sad, it really is sad," said Carlos Velez.