Man arrested after armed standoff with officers, Merced police say

A man was arrested early Sunday following an armed standoff with officers in Merced, according to authorities.

Officers responded after the Merced Police Department received a call at about 12:01 a.m. Sunday about a man threatening his girlfriend and children, ages 1 and 3, with a firearm and shooting inside a residence in the 2500 block of North Highway 59, according to a police news release.

As officers set up a perimeter, the suspect, identified as Demarcus Lyons, opened a window and began firing rounds from a shotgun in the direction of officers, police said.

Several apartments near the scene as well as a trailer were struck by gunfire, according to the release.

Lyons, 25, then exited the residence unarmed and attempted to flee from officers on foot, police said. After a short struggle in front of the apartment complex, Lyons was taken into custody.

According to police, Lyons was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of shooting into an inhabited building, terrorist threats, endangering a child with possible great bodily harm and resisting arrest.

Police said the victims were not injured.

According to police, anyone with information regarding this alleged crime is asked to contact Detective Salyers at 209-388-7705 or by email at salyers@cityofmerced.org.

This story was originally published July 26, 2020 at 10:36 AM.