Update 8:03 p.m.
Three people are dead, including two children, after a standoff in south Springfield that lasted nearly 22 hours.
Identified was 51-year-old William R. Williams, with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Williams’ son and daughter, 4-year-old Brodie and 2-year-old Marley were also found dead.
Lt. Eric Reece with the Springfield Police Department briefed the media just before 8 p.m. as numerous law enforcement and emergency personnel were exiting the premises. It was around 9:30 p.m. Sunday when multiple units started arriving at Lake Shore Apartments to a “check a person call,” he said. Upon arrival, officers encountered a man who was armed.
“At this point we have made entry into the apartment. There are two deceased juveniles inside along with an adult male who appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
He said some of the noises heard in the late afternoon hours, which witnesses described as a bang, were efforts by officers and the bomb squad to make entry into the apartment.
“We sent in robots which helped clear for our safety.”
The scene has been released to detectives, who were anticipated to remain at the site for several hours collecting evidence.
Update 7:10 p.m.:
Official release of details in the standoff that’s entering its 22nd hour in south Springfield remains few.
It began at around 9:30 p.m. Sunday in Building 29 of Lake Shore Apartments, after reports that a man in a second story unit had made threats against his family and is armed. Multiple law enforcement units and emergency vehicles were called to the scene.
The Springfield Bomb Squad was dispatched to the Lake Shore Apartments Monday afternoon, and then deployed a robot.
It remains unclear the events surrounding a large boom, as described by witnesses, heard around 6 p.m. Donald Syring, a Lake Shore resident and former member of the military, characterized the boom as flash grenade.
“Really, really big bang and a lot of light,” he said.
As of 7 p.m., about 50 residents and citizens were positioned behind caution tape but in view of a tactical team and one of the bomb squad robots. Multiple other residents have been viewing the situation from one of the apartment’s many breezeways. Family members of the man inside are also believed to be among the crowd.
Syring said the last time he heard law enforcement attempt to communicate with the man via a bull horn was around 5 p.m.
“They let him know that he was arrested and that he needed to come out quietly and peacefully and have a quick resolve to this and that was it,” said Syring.
Update 1:45 p.m.:
The standoff at Lake Shore Apartments in south Springfield is now 16 hours and running. The Springfield Police Department says it has turned over operations to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Barricade update on S. Cox: Special Reponse Team operations have been turned over to MSHP for now to relieve our officers.
— Springfield PD (@SGFPolice) March 16, 2015
Original post:
A standoff in south Springfield is now a half day in the making, as dozens of officers and multiple law enforcement units continue surveying the scene.
A portion of Building 29 at Lake Shore Apartments was evacuated as a safety precaution at around 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
According to reports, a man had made threats against his family and is possibly armed. Police have released few details. Some negotiations have been heard via bullhorn, language that had asked a man to “come out” and “pick up the phone.”
The Springfield Police Department Special Response Team, Highway Patrol officials, as well as hospital and fire department personnel are among the units on scene.
One Lake Shore employee told KSMU that some residents in Building 29 have been allowed to enter and exit their apartments, depending on their proximity to the situation.
An email to Lake Shore residents sent out just after 10 a.m. says the following:
“As many of you are aware, we are currently partnering with the Springfield Police on the situation at Lake Shore. We assure you that we will continue to do everything we can to assist in the resolution of the situation. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding at this time.”
We will update this story as additional details emerge.