San Antonio standoff ends with no injury

SAN ANTONIO, May 21 (UPI) -- A gunman surrendered to the FBI at a San Antonio credit union Tuesday, ending a nine-hour standoff with the release of two women hostages unharmed.

The suspect gave up shortly after the two workers were seen running to an armored police vehicle, FBI Agent Rene Salinas said. There were no injuries during the standoff that began about 7 a.m. local time at a branch of the San Antonio Federal Credit Union.

Agents negotiated with the gunman during the standoff, but Salinas would not say why the suspect blasted his way into the credit union with a shotgun and took the women hostage. He fired two shots through the front door when they refused to open it.

Witnesses said the gunman fired twice at officers surrounding the building in northwest San Antonio. There were unconfirmed reports he might have been armed with more than one firearm. He was wearing a bulletproof vest, Salinas said.

During early negotiations, police Sgt. Gabe Trevino said the suspect "sounded inebriated."

The gunman was taken into custody but police would not say what charges might be filed in the incident.

When the suspect shot his way into the office early Tuesday the two employees managed to take refuge in a closet or vault, police said, but they were later forced out and held by the suspect until the standoff ended just before 4 p.m.