SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – A reported domestic violence incident in San Diego’s Mid-City area Monday morning led to a large police response in the neighborhood and prompted nearby Horace Mann Middle School and Crawford High School to close for the remainder of the day.
Just after 8 a.m., San Diego police officers were called to an apartment complex on 4310 54th Street, near Trojan Avenue, for a domestic violence report. SDPD told 10News that a gunman had climbed on top of the roof of the Villa Madrid Apartments; the man was threatening his mother with a gun, police say.
A SWAT unit was dispatched to the scene.
"Domestic violence situations are always high-intense situations," says SDPD Lt. Jonathan Dungan. "We try to handle them with the utmost importance and take care of the victims and take the suspect in safely."
The gunman, identified as a 24-year-old Hispanic man, was taken into custody around 9:55 a.m., and police confiscated the firearm as well. Police say the incident unfolded beginning around 6:20 a.m. when a family member called police because the gunman threatened his mom with a gun.
The situation escalated quickly, since the gunman retreated to the roof of the apartment building, which is right across the street from the schools, police say.
Because of the increased police activity and a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents, district officials said police advised them to close the school -- located directly across the street from the apartment complex -- for the rest of the day.
Crawford High School, located on 4191 Colts Way, was placed on a precautionary lockdown due to the police activity. ABC 10News learned the school was later closed for the remainder of the day.
10News spoke to a parent who dropped their kid off when they came across the huge police presence.
"They still had SWAT teams on the roofs that had their guns aimed, ready to shoot," says parent Tasha Williamson. "One of the people behind us said it was his family member and that they had him in custody."
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
