Miami Beach SWAT officers are about to raid an apartment in South Beach after its occupant brandished a gun at a neighbor and then refused to come out.
Police spokesman Bobby Hernandez says the standoff began at 6:30 this morning, when a neighbor was awoken by loud music and went to the front door of 840 16th St. to complain. But instead of an apology, the man inside the apartment gave the neighbor a close-up view of a rifle or shotgun. The neighbor fled and called 911.
Hernandez says cops have already shot tear gas into the apartment. "We've got the building surrounded," he said. "It's about to end. Trust me."
Update: The suspect has been arrested after police fired more tear gas and swarmed into the apartment.
Hernandez could not give any more details about the suspect other than that he's a male.
Police persuaded three other people inside the apartment to come out, but the man with the gun refused.
"Our hostage-negotiation team tried to get him to come out," Hernandez said. "Now SWAT is about to get ready to bring him out."
In the meantime, police vehicles have swarmed Jefferson Avenue between 15th and 16th streets, preventing pedestrians and traffic from passing through.
Check back here for updates.
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