Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — Two city residents are being - TopicsExpress

Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — Two city residents are being held for questioning after a Sunday standoff with the Lockport Police Department and the Niagara County Sheriffs Office. No charges have been filed yet, but officers would talk to the resident and see where things go from there, Lockport Police Chief Larry Eggert said. Police were told a fight started in the afternoon, possibly between 3:30 and 4 p.m., near the corner of High and Pine streets. The incident involved somewhere between eight and 10 people. Officers were told baseball bats and a gun were involved, but as of Sunday evening no evidence of a weapon was found. A few onlookers disputed whether there was a gun at all. Initial reports were that the fight involved baseball bats, Eggert said. As officers got here, they were told there was gunfire involved, too. Were not quite even sure how many shots were fired. Some of those involved fled, while a few entered 117 High St. Eggert said the LPD was told five people were in the house, including a baby. Officer Michael Stover, the LPDs hostage negotiator, made contact with the group, who came out of the house one-by-one, Eggert said. They followed his commands to the letter and just walked out, Eggert said. At least one of the two detainees was a resident of 117 High St., the chief said. Even with the High Street home empty, the Niagara County Sheriffs SWAT team still set up shop and entered the house at just after 5:30 p.m. The team consists of deputies and five Lockport police officers. Roughly 20 minutes later, the team exited the house without finding anyone else. Eggert said the team was sent in as a precaution. We werent sure how many ran into the house, Eggert said. Even though we were told there were no more in there, we cant assume that.Anytime you have somebody barricaded in a house with a gun, it becomes a pretty serious event, Eggert said. Its a residential area. Bullets go through walls ... we had to err on the side of caution just to make sure nobody else got hurt. Police shut down High Street from Pine Street to John Street, then closed a part of Pine, for about an hour Sunday. By 6 p.m. both High and Pine were open to traffic, but onlookers were still hanging around by then. The house at 117 High St. and 201 Pine St. were cordoned off with police tape while officers searched the High Street house.