SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego Police SWAT officers were called to the Midway District on Thursday over an armed robbery suspect barricaded inside of a store.
San Diego Police said 38-year-old Benny Mora, who was armed with a knife, was barricaded at the 3100 block of Sports Area Blvd. shortly before 3:30 p.m. The department dispatched multiple PERT (Psychiatric Emergency Response Team) units, an emergency negotiation team, and SWAT officers to the store.
SDPD says two employees were inside the store and being held by the suspect as hostages, but both employees eventually escaped somehow and were both okay.
"Mora called police from inside the store and told a negotiator that he wanted to commit suicide by cop," said San Diego Police Department Lt. Shawn Takeuchi.
Mora surrendered to police just after 5 p.m. No injuries were reported.
SDPD shut down eastbound traffic on Sports Arena Blvd. to keep the scene clear for authorities. Traffic on Camino Del Rio W. and Rosecrans St. was backed up heavily during the incident.
Mora was booked into County Jail on robbery, false imprisonment and parole violation charges.
