NEW ORLEANS --
A nine-hour police standoff ended Thursday night, and police said they've got the suspect in custody.
It started at an apartment in the 700 block of Upperline Street, just blocks from the Mississippi River Uptown, at about 11:30 a.m.
First City Court Constable Lambert Boissiere said a deputy was visiting 60-year-old Richard Scearce to serve him with an eviction notice when Scearce barricaded himself inside, set fire to the building and fired several gunshots.
The standoff ended peacefully with Scearce's arrest and no injuries at about 8:30 p.m., police said.
Police said that when Scearce was served the eviction, the former Marine asked the visiting deputy for a moment, and then he closed the door. That's when the deputy noticed smoke and called the fire department and police.
Firefighters arrived to put out the fire, which was contained to the man's apartment.
Officer Jonette Williams said that, while inside the home, Scearce fired an AK-47 assault weapon at firefighters. The firefighters then exited the home and notified police. Scearce continued to fire the weapon and rounds struck a fire truck that was parked outside, Williams said.
"I don't know where a guy who can't pay his rent can get an AK-47 machine gun," said neighbor Steve Menzer. "It's pretty surprising, too. He has no money for rent but he has money for guns."
Police cordoned off the immediate area in the 700 block of Upperline Street as negotiations were under way. Neighbors were asked to either stay in their homes or stay away.
The Red Cross brought water to first responders at the scene Thursday evening.
Volunteer members of the Southeast Louisiana Chapter Metro Disaster Action Team brought canteens to the command post on Tchoupitoulas and First streets.
Some neighbors, like Derek Singley, said they worried about their families living near the alleged gunman.
"I'm just trying to get these cops to get my baby and my wife out the house," Singley said. "She heard a big gun battle that's about it. She heard lots of shots. She called me at work trembling and asked me to come home."
Craig Marx was sleeping in his apartment on Upperline Street when neighbors yelled that the building was on fire.
"We all ran around to the front of the building. We see fire coming from the front apartment; also, we hear gunshots," Marx said.
Sarah Ashley-Longshore said the incident made her "sick."
"We've been through too much in New Orleans," she said. "We've got to all pull together."
After nine hours of intense negotiations, Williams said, officers deployed tear gas into the home and Scearce surrendered peacefully.
Scearce was taken to an area hospital for a medical evaluation and will be booked with various offenses, including aggravated assault and arson, Williams said.
Investigators confiscated the AK-47 assault weapon and a semi-automatic handgun from the scene.
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