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.
#breaking there’s heavy police presence near Alleghany St. & Freedom drive in Charlotte. We’re being kept back but it appears it’s a stand off of some kind, we heard police asking for someone to come out with their hands up. We’re expecting an update from @CMPD shortly. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/aP0FxmVaji
— Anthony Kustura (@AnthonyWSOC9) January 17, 2020
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]
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The Advance Auto Parts store is in a strip mall on Freedom Drive, close to Interstate 85.
UPDATE: Freedom Dr. is now CLOSED in both directions near Allegahny St. due to a large police presence at the Advance Auto Parts. #cltraffic #clttraffic #clt pic.twitter.com/5vgvkFps5x
— Traffic Team 9 (@TrafficTeam9) January 17, 2020
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.
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