As of this morning, 30-year-old Jean Perez is in critical condition after barricading himself in his ex-girlfriend’s home with their 3-year-old son. This happened in Montgomery County, Maryland.
According to officials, “The first call to 911 was reported to be a woman screaming. The call taker heard a male voice state, ‘I will kill you,’ and the line was then disconnected.”
By the time officers arrived, the woman and her current boyfriend were outside, having escaped in fear for their own safety after being unable to get the child away from Perez.
Hostage negotiators stood outside the home for more than an hour trying to establish a line of communication with Perez in both English and Spanish. However, he could not be convinced either to release the child or come out of the building.
In addition to writing on the windows with his fingers in what appeared to be blood, Perez also responded to the hostage negotiators by lighting an object on fire and throwing it out of the child’s bedroom window.
“Smoke detectors were activated and audible, and the screams of the child could be heard coming from the second floor,” police said in a statement. “Tactical team supervisors made the decision to enter the home for the welfare of the child. During this time, an officer observed Perez and shot him.”
Thankfully, the child was rescued without having sustained any physical harm.