5-Hour Standoff At Concord Apartment Complex Ends Peacefully: PD

CONCORD, CA — A Concord apartment complex off Clayton Road near Galindo Street was the site of a five-hour standoff Tuesday afternoon between the Concord Police Department's SWAT team and a man who was reportedly holding his child and another minor against their will and threatening to kill them, a Concord police lieutenant said.

The incident began at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, when the Concord Police Department received a call that the two juveniles were being held inside an apartment in the 1700 block of Ellis Street, according to Concord police Lt. Sean Donnelly.

"It was reported that the father of one of the minors was holding them inside the apartment while armed with a gun and machete," Donnelly said. "The suspect, Alejandro Becerra, threatened to kill the minors."

Concord police officers responded and surrounded the apartment building but Becerra refused to come out of his apartment, the lieutenant said.

As Becerra reportedly barricaded himself and the two children inside, police shut down Ellis Street and summoned the SWAT team and negotiators.

At one point during the standoff, the minors — their ages were not disclosed — were able to run out of the apartment and to the safety of police officers, Donnelly said. Neither child was physically harmed in the incident.

Then, after more than five hours of negotiations, Becerra agreed to come out of his apartment.

He surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody Tuesday evening, Donnelly said.

The case remained under investigation Wednesday; anyone with information they may be helpful to police can contact Detective Mahan at 925-603-5817 or call Concord PD's anonymous tip line at 925-603-5836.