GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Police say a 26-year-old man surrendered around 12:30 Friday afternoon following a four-hour standoff on the city's southeast side.
It began around 9 a.m. in the 1400 block of Marshall Ave., not far from Eastern Avenue and Hall Street.
The GRPD says the man was wanted on a warrant for felony firearm and fourth-degree child-abuse charges. That was after a third-grade student brought a loaded gun to Stocking Elementary School last month. No one was hurt. But it prompted the Grand Rapids Public Schools to implement a district-wide ban on backpacks for the remainder of the school year, which ended Friday.
Police arrived at the home around 9:15 a.m. Friday, but say the suspect barricaded himself inside the home. So, the GRPD activated its Special Response Team, and the Crisis Negotiation Team and the U.S Marshall Fugitive Taskforce responded.
Around 12:30, after several phone conversations between tactical negotiators and the suspect, he came out of the home and surrendered peacefully.
"I want to commend our negotiators,” Capt. Terry Dixon said in a written statement. “They were able to establish a rapport and ultimately convince the suspect to come out on his own accord. I want to echo the Chief’s earlier comments on GRPD’s commitment to combat gun violence in our community and keep our kids safe. I am very thankful this incident ended peacefully.”
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