AUSTIN, Texas — An Austin SWAT standoff that began before dawn Monday ended peacefully with one person in custody after a naked man allegedly forced his way into a southeast Austin home and fired shots at officers, police said.
The incident began at approximately 4:30 a.m. when Austin Police Department officers responded to the 6400 block of Santos Street, near Riverside Drive and Montopolis Drive, following a report of gunshots.
The homeowner called police to report that an unknown man had broken into his residence while he was sleeping. The two had a confrontation inside the home before the homeowner escaped unharmed.
Officers arrived, contained the residence and began gathering information from the homeowner.
“While they were gathering some more information from the homeowner, additional shots rang out from inside the residence,” APD Corporal Jose Mendez said.
APD SWAT was notified at approximately 5:30 a.m. and responded to the scene. At some point during the standoff, the suspect came outside and fired toward officers.
SWAT deployed pepper balls inside the residence, and the suspect ultimately surrendered and complied with officers’ commands.
“This could have been a completely different outcome,” Mendez said. “Fortunately, it ended peacefully.”
The suspect was transported to the Travis County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault on a peace officer. Mendez said additional charges are expected.
The homeowner told police he did not know the suspect and that there was no prior relationship between them. Investigators were canvassing the area for surveillance footage and gathering statements from the suspect, the homeowner and neighbors.
It was unclear whether the suspect had attempted to enter other homes in the area before the break-in.
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This is a developing story. CBS Austin has a crew at the scene.