Armed Man Holds His Daughter Hostage

A father who authorities said was involved in a custody dispute and armed with a handgun held his 1 1/2-year-old daughter hostage inside his mother’s home in Santa Ana on Tuesday as police negotiated for the girl’s release.

Authorities said the 25-year-old man, whose name was not released, fired at least three rounds during the standoff, which began about 2:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of West Wilshire Avenue.

The suspect walked out the home’s front door several times, once cradling his daughter in one arm while holding a handgun to her stomach, police said.

The incident began when the child’s mother brought her for a visit.

“The custody dispute led to an argument, which led to a fight, which led the suspect to arm himself,” Police Sgt. Baltazar De La Riva said. “He’s made statements that he’s not going to come out peaceably.”

The mother ran from the bedroom as the suspect fired a shot. He later fired another shot inside the home and a third round outside.

Police have been to the house before. In one recent incident, the father refused to let the mother leave with their daughter until officers arrived and talked him into it, De La Riva said.

Police, including SWAT officers using an armored vehicle, cordoned off a six-block area and evacuated neighboring homes while they negotiated with the man by phone late Tuesday night.