A barricaded man inside a Redwood City home Tuesday morning prompted police to close several streets and temporarily postpone classes at both McKinley Middle School and North Star Academy, police said.
The standoff situation, which ended with 57-year-old Frank Leon being taken into custody just before 8 a.m., began at about 1:30 a.m. when Leon called 911 and said he consumed a "significant amount of prescription medication," police said in a statement. Leon then hung up the phone and 911 dispatchers were unable to reach him.
Responding officers arrived at Leon's home a short time later to check on him before he shot at them with a semi-automatic handgun, police said.
Police immediately set up a perimeter around Leon's apartment and evacuated nearby homes, police said.
Leon proceeded to tell a fleeing neighbor that he wanted to kill the police officers before firing more rounds in the direction of nearby law enforcement officials, police said. Leon also shot two neighboring homes where adults and children were sleeping at the time.
For the next several hours, Leon intermittently fired shots from his apartment, prompting the Redwood City Police Department's SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiation Unit to be called to the scene.
Leon was eventually coaxed out of his apartment, police said. He incited police to shoot him, claiming that he was carrying a concealed weapon. Police, thanks to negotiation officials, later took him into custody without having to use force.
Local
Leon was taken to San Mateo General Hospital for a psychological evaluation, according to police. He is set to be charged with two felony counts for assault with a deadly weapon and shooting into an occupied dwelling.
A preliminary search of Leon's home yielded a loaded gun with a "significant store of ammunition," police said.
No injuries were reported, but four nearby families had to leave their homes for a number of hours while police dealt with the ordeal, according to police.
The public was asked to avoid area while police attempted to secure Leon, police said. The intersections of Harrison Avenue and Clinton Street, Duane Street and James Avenue, Jefferson Avenue and Clinton Street, and Jefferson Avenue and Cleveland Street were all shut down due to the heavy police presence.
Nearby North Star Academy and McKinley Middle School were closed until 10 a.m., police said. Sequoia High School remained open, but parents were advised to drop off their students via Broadway.
An active investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information regarding Leon is asked to call Detective Glenn Albin at 650-780-7141.
