The police in Washington DC have ended a tense standoff with Julius James, who had barricaded himself in his home after he shot three officers who had come to serve him an arrest warrant for animal cruelty.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers went to the 46-year-old’s home at about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, at the 5000 block of Hanna Place in the southeast part of the city, to serve the warrant.
However, James allegedly refused to come out and fired shots through the door, hitting three officers.
The officers are expected to survive their injuries and were reportedly in “good spirits” last night. A fourth officer was also injured in the incident, but not through gunfire.
The cops then entered a lengthy standoff, which continued until yesterday evening before the suspect finally surrendered.
At a press conference yesterday afternoon, Police Chief Pamela A. Smith said James fired more shots at officers throughout the day and apparently alternated between an agitated state and periods of calm as negotiators spoke with him.
Julius James agreed to surrender to DC cops and was charged with animal cruelty
James finally agreed to come out yesterday evening when he was promptly arrested for animal cruelty. Charges for assault on the officers are thought to be pending.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelAfter the standoff, the Humane Rescue Alliance, which specializes in cases of animal cruelty, removed 31 dogs, 20 adults, and 11 puppies from the property. At least some of the dogs were described as pit bulls.
The animals have now been placed in a secure location where they will be examined and provided with medical care.
A spokesperson for the alliance said yesterday, “As this dynamic situation unfolds, our thoughts are with our partners at MPD who are being treated in the hospital and we are wishing them all the best in their recovery. We could not fulfill our mission without them.”
Washington DC residents evacuated during Julius James siege
During the siege, some residents in the immediate area were evacuated, several neighboring streets were blocked off, and members of the public were told to stay “far away from the scene.”
In a statement, the MPD said the case would be further examined by the Criminal Investigations Division and added, “We would like to thank the men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department, our local, state, and federal partners, and the multiple District of Columbia agencies for their assistance during this critical incident.”
During her press conference, Chief Smith acknowledged there has been an increase in violent crime in the nation’s capital but denied crime is out of control. She said, “I think we have a group of individuals who do not respect law enforcement authority.”