Dec 19, 2007 11:29 pm US/Eastern
Staten Island Gunman Eludes Police
Suspect May Not Have Been In House During Standoff
By Elizabeth Hur, CBS 2 HD News
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Officers stood outside of the house of an alleged gunman who barricaded himself inside after apparently firing shots in the street.
CBS
A man suspected of firing a gun during an altercation outside of a Staten Island home on Wednesday afternoon has eluded capture, CBS 2 HD has learned.
Mark Esposito, 28, was initially thought to have barricaded himself inside the home at 233 Hull Ave. in Dongan Hills, but police now believe he may have fled the home before officers even arrived.
Fearing the worst, a police officer ran for his life Wednesday afternoon carrying an 80-year-old woman on his shoulder to safety. At the time, police say they had reason to believe the woman was being held hostage by Esposito, who was thought to be armed and distraught.
"It was a shock to hear the young boy did that," next-door neighbor Frank Salato said. "It was his grandmother. He was a nice kid growing up."
The Salatos were one of dozens of residents evacuated after police responded to the home on Hull Avenue for a report of shots fired.
"I just heard a shot," Rachel Salato said. "Then the cops came and they were barricading the house."
Added evacuated resident Karen Gorbaty: "Speechless … It's ridiculous, sad. It's scary."
Police set up a perimeter and a standoff lasting several hours ensued and continued into the evening rush hour.
Numerous armed officers and SWAT team units donned in shields and helmets surrounded the house and set up camp behind cars along the street.
An armored NYPD vehicle arrived shortly before 3:30 and parked directly in front of the home. At least seven officers then approached the front door and crowded the front porch.
Once the area was secured from the ground and in the air officers stormed in to find the home empty and their suspect gone.
Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 HD for more on this developing story.
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