TEHRAN, March 10-California police, a SWAT team and negotiators are responding to an active shooter and hostage situation that is developing at a veterans’ home in Napa County, where an armed man has taken several people hostage.
TEHRAN,Young Journalists Club (YJC) -California police, a SWAT team and negotiators are responding to an active shooter and hostage situation that is developing at a veterans’ home in Napa County, where an armed man has taken several people hostage.
“We’re currently dealing with an active shooter situation,” California Highway Patrol spokesman Robert Nacke told reporters shortly after 1 pm local time.
“As of this moment, there have been no injuries. However, the suspect has three hostages detained in one room. We have him confined,” CHP's Chris Child told reporters at a 2pm follow-up conference.
A Napa Sheriff’s department deputy “was on scene and engaged with what we now know as a suspect in one of the buildings” just four minutes after an emergency call was received, Child added. “Gunfire was exchanged… It is not known at this time how many rounds were exchanged.”
Three different tactical teams are currently on-site and in the building, keeping the gunman contained to one location. “We have hostage negotiators from at least three different agencies,” Child told reporters.
The suspect has not been identified yet. According to the Napa Valley Register, he could be a 36-year-old former member of The Pathway Home, a privately run program for military veterans with emotional trauma, who was reportedly discharged from the program two weeks ago.
The hostage situation is believed to have developed when the armed man interrupted a going-away party and staff meeting at the northern California veterans home. While allowing some people to leave the event, the armed man reportedly forced others to stay, taking them hostage, Larry Kamer, whose wife Devereaux Smith attended the party, told the Associated Press. While the exact number of hostages has not yet been confirmed, Napa County Fire captain Chase Beckman noted earlier that the gunman took at least three people hostage.
Source:RT
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