Man surrenders; held hostages at BK

Associated Press

BALTIMORE

A standoff between police and a rape suspect who took hostages, including a 7-year-old girl, at a Baltimore Burger King has ended peacefully with the suspect’s surrender, police said.

Baltimore police said Sunday afternoon that the suspect was in custody, and the hostages were unharmed.

Swarms of police, including SWAT teams, surrounded the restaurant for several hours.

Police spokesman T.J. Smith said two of the hostages were Burger King employees.

Police negotiators worked to get the suspect to end the situation without violence and Smith said police were grateful that the suspect surrendered.

“He made the decision to do the right thing, and that was not harm anyone,” Smith said. “He absolutely had the opportunity to do so, but he chose not to do so.”

Smith said the suspect is wanted on an active rape warrant and was spotted driving Sunday morning. Police tried to pull the suspect over, but the man fled and led police on a chase. The pursuit ended when the man crashed into another vehicle, then fled on foot while carrying what Smith said was “believed to be a handgun” into the Burger King in Southwest Baltimore.

Police did not release the man’s name, but said he’s wanted on an a purported rape that occurred within the last two days.

Smith said the driver of the vehicle who was hit by the suspect’s vehicle suffered minor injuries.