2 Men Arrested, Hostages Safe After 3 Hours Of Negotiation: HPD

HOUSTON, TX — A woman and child were safely removed, two men were arrested and charged with assault at the end of a hostage situation in north Houston early Friday morning, according to Houston police.

After receiving reports of an assault and gunshots at approximately 11:30 p.m. Thursday, police found a man outside an apartment on the 16000 block of Cotillion Drive. The man told authorities he ran from the apartment fearing for his life after two armed men had forced their way in, engaged in a physical confrontation and threatened to kill him. The man said the two men were still inside, along with a woman and a five-year-old girl, police said.

After the woman called police asking them to leave and saying she was fine, SWAT and a hostage negotiation team were called to help with the situation. After approximately three hours, authorities convinced the woman and child to leave the apartment, police said.

The two men, one of which was a teenager, gave themselves up shortly after and were arrested without incident, according to authorities.

One man, who was confirmed to formerly have an intimate relationship with the woman, was charged with aggravated assault and family violence, and the other was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Investigators found two spent bullet casings at the apartment, but no serious injuries were reported. The woman had minor injuries from a fall suffered while leaving the apartment, police said.

The Houston Police Department domestic abuse response team provided a victim advocate to speak with the woman after the incident.