Tear gas forces armed suspect out of storage shed in Energy Corridor

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An armed suspect was taken into custody Friday evening after barricading himself inside a storage shed in the Energy Corridor, according to Houston police.

Police first received multiple reports around 7:15 p.m. about a 30-year-old man robbing people at gunpoint within two neighboring apartment complexes, according to HPD spokesman Kese Smith.

An HPD helicopter and patrol officers tracked the suspect to an outside utility shed at an apartment complex in the 1900 block of Westmead.

Police were told by witnesses that he was armed with a pistol so SWAT and a hostage negotiation team were called out.

The hostage negotiation team tried unsuccessfully to reason with the suspect through its loudspeakers.

The suspect was eventually forced out by tear gas released into the utility shed.

“It turns out it actually was an airsoft pistol, but for the victims, it looked like the real thing,” Smith said. ” So you can definitely understand why they were in fear for their life and gave up their possessions.”

HPD Robbery Division will take over the investigation and interview witnesses.