Police In Havre De Grace Shoot And Kill Suspect Holding Woman Hostage

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. (WJZ) -- New details about a deadly standoff in Harford County. Authorities say a man was shot and killed after holding a woman hostage.

Rochelle Ritchie has more on the suspect and his victim.

That female hostage had a protective order against the suspect who shot and killed by police.

Scary moments at a home on the 700-block of Eerie Street, where Havre de Grace police responded to a call for help because of a fight.

"When officers arrived on scene, they were not able to locate where that fight was. They didn't visually see anything or hear anything," said Jeff Gilpin, Havre de Grace Police.

Instead, neighbors directed police to a home where they found Austin Frances Jones, 34, had barricaded himself inside of a home with a female hostage, refusing to let her go.

Neighbors say they had to evacuate their homes as officers moved in on the suspect.

"Quite shocking. I just seen the guy the other day. Shook his hand and said, 'Hey, how you doing?'" said neighbor Marcus Payton.

Officers with the Harford County Sheriff's Office were called to help negotiate with the suspect.

"One of the officers, one of our officers that was there, is trained and is part of the negotiation team. He had a dialogue with the suspect," Gilpin said.

It worked. Jones let the woman, who had a restraining order against him, leave. But he would not make it out alive.

Police say the suspect made a gesture to indicate he had a gun. That's when he was shot and killed.

"He seemed cool. Seemed a little off to me though, but not too much," Payton said.

The officer who shot and killed Austin Jones is now on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

The woman who was held hostage had no reported injuries.