US

Police End Standoff With Armed Man On Amtrak Train After Tear Gas Deployed

(Photo: Scott Davidson/Creative CommonsFlickr)

Kerry Picket Political Reporter
Font Size:

Los Angeles police deployed tear gas to end an 8-hour-long standoff with an armed man who barricaded himself on board an Amtrak train early Saturday morning, The Associated Press reported.

Amtrak identified the man as 46-year-old Oxnard resident Darius Palmer. Palmer was arrested and brought into custody and a handgun was recovered at the scene, an Amtrak spokesperson said.

According to the AP, the train was evacuated late Friday night after witnesses saw a man with a firearm acting in a bizarre manner. The uproar caused the train to stop in the San Fernando Valley, so law enforcement could do a search. The train was carrying 187 passengers and 5 crew members at the time of the incident.

“Someone reported that he dropped a gun – likely was then reported to the train folks –and that’s when things escalated,” Amtrak passenger Allison Bird told KABC-TV.

Firearms are not allowed in carry-on luggage on Amtrak trains. However, passengers can check firearms prior departure if the guns are secured (unloaded and locked in containers) as per requirements of Amtrak policy.

Follow Kerry on Twitter