Suspect Stabs Man With Sword, Prompts 9-Hour Standoff

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) – Police Wednesday surrounded an apartment building in the downtown Los Angeles area for more than nine hours before determining that a man accused of stabbing a romantic rival with a sword wasn't holed up inside as they thought.

At about 3 a.m., Los Angeles police responded to the 200 block of East Washington Boulevard on a report of a suspect who had stabbed a man with a sword.

A man and woman were together in the street when the woman entered her apartment and found the suspect inside, according to police. The suspect came outside, cut the man with a sword, and then returned to the apartment, police said.

The victim was taken a hospital with unknown injuries.

The suspect and victims knew each other, police disclosed, adding that they appeared to be involved a romantic triangle.

LAPD SWAT were called out and a standoff ensued with the suspect, who was believed to be inside the apartment. Streets were closed around Washington Boulevard and Santee Street and Metro Blue Line service was stopped between the Grand-Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and the San Pedro Street stations.

However, sometime around 12:30 p.m., officers determined the suspect was not inside the apartment and the standoff was called off. Police did not release a suspect description or provide details regarding where he might be. The investigation was ongoing.

The roadway was reopened and Blue Line service was restored.

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