SWAT Situation Ends In South Austin With Man's Death (UPDATED)

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — An hours-long standoff on Monday ended after the man who had barricaded himself inside a home was found deceased inside.

A police SWAT team was called to the 7500 block of St. Amant Place near Brodie Lane and William Cannon Drive at around 3:30 p.m. before law enforcement officials said the standoff had ended around 8 p.m. after they gained entry into the home when they got no response to their commands to exit the building.

Briefing reporters after the incident ended, Cpl. Chad Martinka said the call began as a domestic disturbance. By the time police arrived, other occupants had exited the building except for a man believed to have weapons. The officer didn't specify what weapons police believed the man may have had at hand.

Martinka also did not confirm if the man died of his own hand. The time of his death is unknown, he added, as the man failed to respond to police commands throughout most of the standoff.

During the standoff, Martinka said, a "flash bang" grenade was lobbed into the home to enable the SWAT team's entry. The device produces a bright flash while emitting a loud noise so as to stun or disorient people without causing serious injury.

Such tactics are common for the Austin Police Department, which typically dispatches its SWAT team along with a full arsenal of military-grade equipment — armored, tank-like vehicles, camera-equipped robots, heavy duty weapons, riot gear, battering rams and a bullhorn to issue commands from the perimeter among the items — as a show of force to coax barricaded people out of homes.

While other police departments utilize the full military-style arsenal and paramilitary forces more sparingly — in rooting out drug gang members or hunting down cop killers, for instance — the APD appears to use its strike force whenever people suspected of wrongdoing refuse to exit their homes. During the press briefing, Martinka explained this is done toward gaining entry into a home to administer first aid to any injured parties that may be inside a home to which police are barred entry.

From earlier:

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — An Austin Police Department SWAT team was at a residence in southwest Austin trying to coax a barricaded person to surrender.

The incident was occurring along the 7500 block of St. Amant Place near Brodie Lane and William Cannon Drive. The call came in just before 3:30 p.m.

Police have released no details as to what led to the standoff, but ask residents to avoid the area at this time. Patch will update when more details are known.