Gunfire Leads to Standoff, Lockdown in Victory Park

Dallas police say a person is in custody after shots were fired inside an apartment high-rise Tuesday morning, triggering the closure of busy Downtown Dallas streets and the lockdown of nearby schools and businesses near Victory Park.

Police were called to The Vista Apartments on the 2300 block of Houston Street at about 10 a.m. Tuesday after gunshots were fired inside the building and windows were shot out of the building.  Initial reports from the scene indicated that the man began firing after receiving an eviction notice, but police later said that was not accurate.

“They got to the scene, realized there was an armed individual there who was shooting from an elevated position,” said Deputy Chief Scott Walton. 

Due to the danger, SWAT was called to secure the scene.  After doing so, they began trying to encourage the barricaded person to surrender.  

Police said a flash-bang device was used at 12:03 p.m. to attempt to "distract and disorient a suspect" in the apartment. At that time, DPD said the situation was "contained, but ongoing."

At 12:43, gas was deployed inside the barricaded person's apartment and was seen billowing from a window of the apartment. The man could be seen opening a door, trying to dissipate the gas deployed on the balcony.

“Ultimately we used tear gas, and the occupant came out the front door where we were able to take him into custody without incident,” added Walton.

The Dallas Police Department identified the man who held police at bay for several hours Tuesday as 38-year-old David Lamb. 

Lamb is currently on probation for a DWI conviction in 2012, according to court documents, which also state he was involved in a wreck with a taxi cab. He served 18 months of probation, but court documents reveal his probation was recently extended in February.

NBC 5 law enforcement expert Don Peritz said the courts could decide events that occurred during Tuesday’s stand off were a violation of his probation. He may also not face any charges pending the results of a medical evaluation, added Peritz.

So far, police have not filed any charges against the man and said that no weapon was found inside the apartment. Police have also not confirmed the man's identity.  They said Tuesday afternoon that the man involved in the standoff was distressed and that he has been taken for a mental health evaluation by medical personnel.  At this time, police do not believe the man is a threat to others.

The man's apartment building is next to the W Hotel and near the American Airlines Center and several other Victory Park attractions.

The Dallas World Aquarium, Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Lunar Prep Academy and the W Hotel were on lockdown due to the situation. Booker T. Washington High School was under a "shelter in place" order by the school district. Streets around Victory Park were closed, including Olive Street, Museum Way, High Market Street and Victory Park Lane.

After the man was taken into custody, the lock downs were lifted.

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NBC 5's Ben Russell, Julie Fine, Bianca Castro and Frank Heinz contributed to this report.

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