Los Santos Insider | Tense standoff as male barricades with a gun

Peat · May 22, 2023

TENSE STANDOFF AS MALE

BARRICADES WITH A GUN

Written by Shun Nakamura - 23rd May 2023

Above: Metro breach the door and gunfire is heard from inside.

Above: Law Enforcement prepare outside the building surrounding the suspect as negotiations take place.

Two bearcats filled with Police Officers from the PD Metro were seen responding to a barricaded suspect in Vespucci following a routine traffic stop at around 8pm last night. One male suspect was reported to have entered a property on Melanoma Street where he locked himself away and refused to give himself up to law enforcement outside.

Officers quickly surrounded the front of the property and it's surrounding alleyways before Officer Navarro stepped up to take negotiations. The male inside quickly identified himself to Navarro as Richard Espudo. Espudo demanded to speak to Jane Stout initially from the Sheriff's Department before later asking for Deputy Wagner and Office Glowacki. He was informed that none of the three were available and that it was a Police situation only.

Above: Officers take cover as the door is opened for the Robot to head inside

((A robot is visible entering the door in front of the bearcat))

After a lengthy negotiation process, Espudo seemed to realise he wasn't getting his way and taunted for Officers to breach inside, even going as far to walk towards the front door with his handgun at one point which one Officer noted and called out on her radio.
With things getting more tense, the Officer heading the operation Lieutenant Weiss ordered the team to utilize their robot to get an eye inside and see if they could work out a plan. An Officer was seen ramming the door before the robot disappeared inside before being shot at by Espudo inside the building.

Above: Police moments before breaching the building.

Law enforcement let some time pass after these shots before Metro stacked up closer to the door with gas masks ready, they tossed in two cannisters filled with gas intended to irritate the suspects senses before backing up. The stubborn Espudo remained steadfast inside the building, not being flushed out by the gas seeping into each room. This led to Metro breaching inside, when they did three gunshots were heard from inside before a fourth gunshot was heard five or so seconds later.

Once inside, the suspect was backed into a corner with a team of Metro Officers just a room away. Navarro managed to continue his negotiations now the suspect was feeling pinned. According to the Lieutenant Weiss, Navarro used his personal experience and knowledge of the locals to build some trust and a rapport with the suspect ultimately leading to being able to walk him out alive with no one being shot.

Above: Police take a moment to debrief after the situation concluded after a long hour and 30 minutes.