x
Breaking News
More () »

Boise suspect falls through ceiling, ending hours-long standoff

The Ada County Sheriff's Office used a SWAT robot to find the suspect hiding in the attic.

BOISE -- A hours-long standoff ended late Monday night when a suspect hiding in the attic of a Boise home fell through the ceiling and was taken into custody.

According to the Ada County Sheriff's Office, the standoff began after a woman called law enforcement at about 3 p.m,, telling dispatchers that 26-year-old Justin Thomas Larson had pointed a gun at her face and threatened to hurt her earlier that day.

The woman said she and Larson had in the driveway of a house in the 3900 block of West Leland Way when he threatened her, but she was able to leave and call 911.

The sheriff's office determined that Larson was still inside the Leland Way house, and was armed. Deputies set up a perimeter around the house and tried to talk to Larson, who was the only person in the home, but did not get a response from him.

Justin Larson

The sheriff's office called in a SWAT team and armored vehicle at about 7 p.m., but Larson still refused to come out.

Deputies were in contact with the people in the homes near the standoff and asked those residents to shelter in place until it was over.

The sheriff's office received permission from the home's owner to go inside, and sent in a robot to try and figure out where Larson was in the house. After learning the suspect was hiding in the attic, authorities sent in a K-9 dog to apprehend him.

At that point, Larson fell through the ceiling of the home onto the ground below, where he was taken into custody by deputies just before midnight.

Authorities say they found a computer bag that belonged to Larson, containing a 9mm handgun and small amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana. Larson told investigators he had had the gun in his waistband earlier that day.

He was arrested and booked into the Ada County Jail on felony charges of aggravated assault, drug possession, probation violation, and being a felon in possession of a gun, along with misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and resisting and obstructing.

Larson is due to make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

Before You Leave, Check This Out