Hostage Situation at DeKalb County, Georgia Motel Ends With 11 Children Safe

Hostage Situation at DeKalb County, Georgia Motel Ends With 11 Children Safe
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The Associated Press
1/5/2016
Updated:
1/5/2016

DECATUR, Ga.—A standoff at a motel outside Atlanta that involved a number of children ended Tuesday morning with the suspect stabbing himself but no one else injured, police said.

Authorities had surrounded the motel as the man refused to leave a room, prompting concerns about the safety of several children inside.

The suspect was being brought to a hospital and everyone else involved was safe, according to the DeKalb County Police Department’s Twitter account.

DeKalb County interim Police Chief James Conroy tells WSB-TV the man was armed with a knife. Police later identified him as Korrie Thomas, 36, and said he is facing charges of false imprisonment and obstruction.

A woman and 11 children ranging in age from 3 months to 17 years old were inside the room and Thomas would not allow anyone to leave, DeKalb County police Maj. Stephen Fore said in a news release.

Jail records did not list any attorney for Thomas.

Police said the ordeal began shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday, and ended about 5 hours later.

A SWAT team had been called to the Rite4us Inn & Suites motel near in the Decatur area, about 10 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.