Police barricade possible gunman in Redondo Beach
The scene at the corner of Francisca Avenue and Catalina Avenue where police barricaded a possible gunman.
At approximately 2 p.m. Friday, Redondo Beach Police responded to calls that a man residing on the 500 block of North Francisca Avenue was making violent threats to himself and others. The police responded with over a dozen cruisers and, after failed attempts to make contact with the subject, called in SWAT for reinforcement and barricaded the stretch of Francisca from Catalina Avenue to Beryl Street. At approximately 4:20 p.m. the suspect came out of the house and was arrested.
Redondo Beach police called in reinforcements to handle the possible threat on Francisca Ave. Photos by Alyssa Morin
“Because of the nature of the threats, we determined that there was a threat that existed and we felt the need to evacuate the area and to cordon off the street in order to come up with a plan,” said Redondo Beach Police Captain Jeff Hink. “During that time we were putting together resources to safely take him into custody for the threats he was making, he came out of the house on his own volition and we took him into custody without incident.”
Police and neighbors surround the home on Francisca Avenue where the incident occurred after the subject had been taken into custody.
Neighbor Melanie Turnbow was in her house on Francisca Avenue when the incident occurred.
“A friend of his was here and showed the cops these crazy texts he had sent her,” Turnbow said. “He said that he had stolen his neighbor’s gun and that he was going to kill himself. He said that if the cops showed up he would get into a shootout with them and that would be a good way to die.”
It has not been confirmed whether the suspect had a firearm. Captain Hink did not believe there was a gun in the house.
At 4:30 p.m., the police opened Francisca Avenue again and neighbors gathered to discuss what had happened.
A neighbor who lived next to the suspect and wished to remain anonymous said there had been a number of problems with the suspect before today. “It’s been hell living next to him,” he said.