Police officers work near the house in Cedar Park, Texas, where a person remained barricaded Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Three police officers were shot, authorities said. The officers are in stable condition at a local hospital, police said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
CEDAR PARK, Texas (AP) - A 16-hour hostage situation and exchange of gunfire that left three police officers injured ended calmly Monday morning when a man and his mother walked out of a home near Austin, Texas.
The Cedar Park Police Department said the suspect, 26-year-old Joseph Taylor, would be charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a public officer and three charges of kidnapping - all first degree felonies. Taylor would be taken to the Williamson County Jail after being treated at a hospital, interim police chief Mike Harmon said, without explaining his injuries.
Taylor's mother called police Sunday afternoon after he kicked in the door of the home. When police arrived, he exchanged more than 50 rounds of gunfire with officers, Harmon said. Taylor then barricaded himself inside with his two siblings, his mother and a pet.
Taylor posted live videos on social media from inside the house before law enforcement asked Facebook to take it down, Harmon said.
Taylor first released his brother, sister and a family pet, and he and his mother left the house peacefully at around 9 a.m. Monday, police said.
Police said three officers were hurt in the exchange of gunfire: Jacqueline Quiles, who has been with the department four years; Cris Hester, a 10 year veteran of the department; and Nik Anderson, who has been an officer at Cedar Park for eight years.
Two of them were treated and released from a hospital and the third was stable after undergoing surgery, Harmon said Monday.
'œOur hearts are with the police officers who were injured while protecting the Cedar Park community this afternoon. We must never take for granted the service and sacrifice of our law enforcement officers, and the State of Texas stands ready to provide the support and resources needed to bring justice to those involved,'ť Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement.
Harmon said the negotiations were 'œdelicate'ť but that they had been hopeful the man would surrender peacefully. He said officers have been to the same residence before to follow up on reports of assault and mental health-related calls.
'œYou have to remember the humanity of people,'ť said Cedar Park Police Lt. Chance Thomas, who worked with the negotiation team. 'œLife is our number one home value.'ť
Police officers work in front of a house in Cedar Park, Texas, where a standoff was happening Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. The Cedar Park Police Department said on Twitter that officers were responding to a call at a home when three were shot. They said one person was barricaded inside the home. The officers were in stable condition at a local hospital, Interim Police Chief Mike Harmon said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
Police and other emergency vehicles are gathered near where three police officers were shot Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, and a person remained barricaded inside a home located in Cedar Park, Texas. The officers are in stable condition at a local hospital, police said on Twitter. (Andy Way/KXAN-TV via AP)
The Associated Press
A police officer stands on a street near where emergency vehicles are gathered near where three police officers were shot Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, and a person remained barricaded inside a home located in Cedar Park, Texas. The officers are in stable condition at a local hospital, police said on Twitter. (Andy Way/KXAN-TV via AP)
The Associated Press
Police officers work in front of a house in Cedar Park, Texas, where a standoff was happening Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. The Cedar Park Police Department said on Twitter that officers were responding to a call at a home when three were shot. They said one person was barricaded inside the home. The officers were in stable condition at a local hospital, Interim Police Chief Mike Harmon said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
Police officers work in front of a house in Cedar Park, Texas, where a standoff was happening Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. The Cedar Park Police Department said on Twitter that officers were responding to a call at a home when three were shot. They said one person was barricaded inside the home. The officers were in stable condition at a local hospital, Interim Police Chief Mike Harmon said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
Police officers work in front of a house in Cedar Park, Texas, where a standoff was happening Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. The Cedar Park Police Department said on Twitter that officers were responding to a call at a home when three were shot. They said one person was barricaded inside the home. The officers were in stable condition at a local hospital, Interim Police Chief Mike Harmon said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
Police officers work in front of a house in Cedar Park, Texas, where a standoff was happening after three police officers were shot Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. The Cedar Park Police Department said on Twitter that officers were responding to a call at a home when three were shot. They said one person was barricaded inside the home. The officers were in stable condition at a local hospital, Interim Police Chief Mike Harmon said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
A police officer works at the scene of a standoff in Cedar Park, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Three police officers were shot and a person remained barricaded inside a home, authorities said. The officers are in stable condition at a local hospital, police said on Twitter (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
Medical supplies remain on the pavement near a house where a standoff was taking place, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, in Cedar Park, Texas. Three police officers were shot and a person remained barricaded inside a home, authorities said. The officers are in stable condition at a local hospital, police said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
A police officer runs near a house in Cedar Park, Texas, where a standoff was happening Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Three police officers were shot and a person remained barricaded inside a home, authorities said. The officers are in stable condition at a local hospital, police said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
A police officer works in front of a house in Cedar Park, Texas, during a standoff Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Three police officers were shot and a person remained barricaded inside a home, authorities said. The officers are in stable condition at a local hospital, police said on Twitter (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
Law enforcement officers confer Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, in Cedar Park, Texas. Three police officers were shot and a person remained barricaded inside a home, authorities said. The officers are in stable condition at a local hospital, police said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
A police officer works in front of a house in Cedar Park, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Three police officers were shot and a person remained barricaded inside a home, authorities said. The officers are in stable condition at a local hospital, police said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
A police officer works at the scene of a shooting in Cedar Park, Texas, Sunday Aug. 16, 2020. Three police officers were shot and a person remained barricaded inside a home near Austin, authorities said. The Cedar Park Police Department said on Twitter that officers were responding to a call at a home when three were shot. They said one person was barricaded inside the home. The officers are in stable condition at a local hospital, police said on Twitter. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press