SWAT scene at Advance Auto Parts store in west Charlotte clears; no arrests made

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dozens of police officers, as well as the SWAT Team, descended on an Advance Auto Parts store in west Charlotte Friday morning.

Channel 9 crews watched as several Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers, with guns drawn, surrounded the store on Freedom Drive.

Police said someone tried to rob the store at gunpoint just before 8 a.m. and officers believed the suspect may have been inside.

CMPD tweeted they were “implementing de-escalation tactics due to an armed suspect who is believed to be alone inside of the building. Everyone is asked to stay away from the area as officers work to peacefully de-escalate the situation.”

Around 9 a.m., armored SWAT vehicles could be seen pulling up to the scene.

Police said investigators entered the store and determined the suspect had left the building through the backdoor.

The suspect stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall and was wearing a dark hoodie, blue jeans, a gray toboggan and tan boots. He also had a dark bag and a small handgun.

[PHOTOS: SWAT team surrounds Advance Auto Parts store in west Charlotte]

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 8

SWAT standoff at Advance Auto Parts Police and SWAT officers surrounded an Advance Auto Parts store on Freedom Drive in west Charlotte Friday after an apparent armed robbery. (WSOC)

The Advance Auto Parts store is in a strip mall on Freedom Drive, close to Interstate 85.

Police blocked Freedom Drive in both directions for the investigation.

No arrests have been made.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

8-hour standoff in Ashe County ends with officer shooting, killing suspect, sheriff says 8-hour standoff in Ashe County ends with officer shooting, killing suspect, sheriff says

© 2020 Cox Media Group