A 59-year-old man is in custody after a tense standoff in downtown Duluth that shut down a portion of the city for hours Wednesday. Police say the incident began when officers responded to a report of a man with a gun barricaded inside a storage unit in the alley between Superior Street and First Street, between First and Second avenues west.
The Duluth Police Department’s Crisis Negotiations Team and SWAT unit were called to the scene. They worked through the morning to resolve the situation peacefully. The surrounding area was closed to traffic as a precaution.
Just after noon, police announced that the man had surrendered without incident. No injuries were reported. He was arrested and taken to the St. Louis County Jail, where he is expected to face charges of second-degree assault and threats of violence.
The News Tribune generally does not identify suspects until they have been formally charged. The investigation is ongoing.
For those in crisis, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988. If you or a loved one is in immediate physical danger, call 911 and ask for a Crisis Intervention Team officer.
