Police have surrounded a West Oakland home where they believe a murder suspect is holed up, and have blocked off streets in the area, a police spokeswoman said.
Oakland police received a call at 11:23 a.m. about a dispute at a home in the 900 block of 21st Street.
Some people who were inside the home exited the residence and told officers that an additional person was inside and was wanted for a homicide in Oakland, police spokeswoman Johnna Watson said.
Officers made numerous attempts to contact that person but were unable to do so, Watson said.
The SWAT team, a hostage negotiation team and a K-9 unit were called in and were assisted by a California Highway Patrol helicopter, Watson said.
Police fired beanbag rounds at the home's windows to break the glass before shooting gas canisters into the residence to try to force the suspect out, Watson said.
The standoff was ongoing as of 4:30 p.m.
Local
The suspect is being treated as armed and dangerous, Watson said.
"Oakland police SWAT team is currently conducting a slow and methodical search," Watson said. "We not only want to make it safe for our officers but we also want the safe surrender and apprehension of the suspect, who is wanted in connection to a homicide."
Several streets were blocked, including Market Street from 18th Street to 21st Street, 18th Street from Market to Filbert Street, and Myrtle Street from 18th to West Grand Avenue.
Police evacuated half a dozen homes in the immediate area, she said.
