Posted on: Friday, March 16, 2001

Gunman forces Punchbowl area evacuations

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A man armed with a gun and threatening to kill himself kept police at bay and prevented dozens of people from returning to their Punchbowl homes last night.

The man, 46, remained in a ground-floor apartment at 1455 Pele Lane late into the night. Police negotiators had made contact with him, but he was uncooperative, said Specialized Services Division Capt. Doug Miller.

The standoff began shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday when police received a call that a man with a gun was threatening to kill himself. Miller said the man did not live in the apartment, but was visiting a resident.

Miller said the occupant and at least one patrol officer saw the man with an "improvised firearm" that resembled a homemade or "zip" gun. Miller did not say why the man went to the apartment and threatened to kill himself.

The man apparently was alone, and police said they were willing to wait as long as necessary for him to surrender.

Police evacuated the four-story building and homes surrounding the apartment. They also blocked off Pele Lane and Lusitana Street and set up a command center at a nearby Jiffy Lube outlet.

Dozens of people wandered near the scene, unable to return to their homes or cars.

The Red Cross set up a shelter at Royal Elementary School to provide food and shelter for displaced residents.

At 11 last night, about 15 people were in the shelter.