Live updates: Police take 1 into custody after hours-long standoff at SLO apartment ends

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Update, Tuesday, 12:20 a.m.:

An hours-long standoff at a San Luis Obispo apartment complex ended late Monday night with one person being arrested after he allegedly fired a gun in the neighborhood.

According to a San Luis Obispo Police Department news release, the department received reports of gunshots in the vicinity of the 1500 block of Madonna Road late Sunday evening.

Responding officers however did not find any evidence of gunshots, according to the release.

The next morning, the department received a report from a resident in the same block of a bullet hole in the trunk of their car, the release said.

Investigation revealed Luis Martin Barron, 30 and a resident of San Luis Obispo, was suspected of firing a gun in the neighborhood, police said.

At around 5:15 p.m. on Monday, the department received a 911 call that “Barron was banging on the door and window of a neighbor’s apartment while holding a gun.”

“Officers responded immediately to the apartment complex and located Barron who retreated into his apartment and refused to come out,” the release said.

The San Luis Obispo Regional SWAT Team was called to assist and a perimeter was established around the residence while nearby apartments and buildings were evacuated, according to the release.

Officers at first attempted to contact Barron at his residence via loudspeaker, but were not successful, the release said. Later, SLOPD Crisis Negotiators were able to reach Barron on a cell phone and “spoke with him for several hours, attempting to deescalate and negotiate a peaceful resolution,” the release said.

Barron exited the apartment and was taken into custody without incident at around 11:26 p.m.

He was transported to San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of a felony charge for unlawful discharge of a weapon, the release said.

San Luis Obispo Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire all also provided assistance with the incident.

Update, Tuesday, 12:05 a.m.:

A person was taken into custody with no injuries to the person or to law enforcement personnel, the San Luis Obispo Police Department posted on social media just before midnight.

Further details were expected to be provided shortly.

Update, 10:05 p.m.:

Over a dozen police cars lined up outside of El Tigre Court and Madonna Road through much of Monday evening as law enforcement continued to respond to a potentially armed subject.

San Luis Obispo Police Department Deputy Chief Brian Amoroso told The Tribune there was only one person barricaded in the Madonna Road Apartment unit.

Nearby, several residents awaited the go ahead to return to their homes as the standoff continued into its nearly fourth hour.

Zach Maxwell told The Tribune he got a phone call from his mom saying she’d been evacuated from the house with his little brother.

“So I just came home from work and just trying to make sure everything’s okay,” Maxwell said.

Another neighbor, Tony Cordero, said he tried to go home after work but was blocked by police.

“I don’t know how long these situations, how long they last,” Cordero said.

Update, 8:35 p.m.:

Police have contained an apartment with a barricaded subject inside, the San Luis Obispo Police Department posted on X at 8:26 p.m.

According to the department, officers were attempting to negotiate with the person. People were still being asked to avoid the area.

As of early Monday evening, law enforcement could be seen assembled in the area of the Madonna Road Apartments.

Update, 7:25 p.m.:

San Luis Obispo Police Department spokesperson Christine Wallace said the person of interest in the Monday evening incident was in an apartment in the area.

“We are seeking a suspect we believe has a gun,” Wallace told The Tribune. “We will share information when the shelter in place is lifted.”

Original story:

Residents in a San Luis Obispo neighborhood were told to shelter in place while police responded to a potentially armed person in the area on Monday evening.

According to a post from the San Luis Obispo Police Department on X, there was “heavy police activity on the 1500 block of Madonna Road as of 6:12 p.m.”

Residents were asked to shelter in place, while others were asked to avoid the area of Madonna Road, El Tigre Court and Eto Circle while the SWAT operation was ongoing, according to Deputy Chief Fred Mickel.

“Right now we have a potential armed suspect we are dealing with,” he told The Tribune. “We want to make sure everybody is safe, so we want people to stay away from the area for now.”

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol and the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department were all also on scene.

According to emergency response app PulsePoint, a medical emergency was reported in the same area around 4:15 p.m.