Standoff on far N. Side ends in surrender

A man who barricaded himself in an apartment for four hours after shots were fired at the far North Side complex surrendered Tuesday night.

The incident began with reports of a shooting at about 4 p.m. in the 21600 block Milsa Drive, police said.

Chief William McManus said the man was believed to be 38 years old. The shooter fired at nothing in particular from a second-floor apartment. No one was injured.

In between the shots being fired, the man threw furniture and other items over the balcony. Windows to the apartment also were broken, police said.

“We've been trying to make contact with him. We have not been able to do that,” McManus said moments before the standoff ended. “He's been silent for the last few hours.”

At about 8:30 p.m., the chief announced that the man surrendered peacefully to officers.

Investigators do not know what prompted the incident.

Family members informed police about the man's mental state, but the chief was not willing to comment on his condition.

He said the department's mental health team was on scene since the start of the incident, including a psychologist. He noted this now is standard procedure.

“If the person is experiencing any mental health issues, psychologists and the mental health team would be able to help him through that,” McManus said.

One weapon was found inside the apartment, police said.

Resident Audrey Kelly, 26, said she was studying with her friends in an upper-level conference room when the fire alarm went off.

“A few seconds later a man walks in and says you guys need to go,” she recalled. “Then my boyfriend calls and says there's a shooter.”

As she and her friends began leaving, they heard several bursts of gunshots. She estimates she heard more than 20 shots.

She said they hid behind a brick wall until police allowed them to leave the complex.

“I'm feeling not as scared as I was before,” she said as she and other residents were evacuating.