Armed woman taken into custody in east Vancouver

Police and sheriff’s deputies converged in the 19400 block of Southeast 20th Street, in far-east Vancouver near Camas, late Tuesday night after learning that shots were fired in a home and a woman was barricaded inside with a handgun.

The call surfaced at 10:21 p.m. Tuesday. An officer radioed that a shot had “definitely” been fired inside, according to emergency radio traffic monitored at The Columbian.

As officers took positions at the scene, there was concern that a child might be inside with the woman, but officers were told that wasn’t the case.

Officers called for ballistic shields and other armor.

At 10:36 p.m., an officer said another shot had been fired inside.

It appeared that an officer was communicating with the woman on and off.

Officers called for SWAT Team members. Someone said the woman was believed to be suffering from a mental condition and had been drinking.

An officer said “We’re attempting to force our way in the rear door.”

It appeared the woman was locked in an upstairs bedroom.

Officers were told to get ready to rescue the woman, who was believed to have shot herself.

At 11:24 p.m., an officer said they had the woman in custody.

Officer Missy Skeeter with the Vancouver Police Department later told The Columbian that the woman had survived. Ross said she could release no other information or confirmation because the situation ended up being a “medical call.”