An armed hostage situation is “tense” and two hostages have been released at a Casper motel, said Casper Police Chief Chris Walsh. Police believe there may be other hostages.
No injuries have been reported as a result of the standoff.
Police were called to the Super 8 Motel, 3838 CY Ave., earlier this morning because a number of people were going in and out of a specific room, a motel manager told the Star-Tribune.
Police are not sure what started the situation. The perpetrators are armed, police said.
Walsh also said no schools are in danger.
Eye-witnesses told the Star-Tribune they were told to evacuate earlier this morning. One person who was evacuated saw a police robot go in. Two witnesses said they heard what sounded like gunshots.
Shortly before 9, one woman was led out of the hotel in handcuffs. A man was later led out in handcuffs. Those two people are believed to be hostages.
A third person was let out of the building about 10.
Police later pushed back a group of onlookers, telling them they were “in the line of fire.”
At the request of Casper Police, Wyoming Boulevard was closed between Fairside and CY Avenue. Traffic, including the heavy truck traffic Wyoming Boulevard typically carries, was being diverted around the fairgrounds. Expect delays.
Three schools were locked down -- CY Junior High, Fort Casper Academy and Transitions. Because the lockdown came as students were still filing into the buildings and getting situated, school officials told the Star-Tribune, children were allowed into the building.
Officials at Quality Child Care Center, 2000 Fairgrounds Road, told the Star-Tribune their facility has also been on lock down since about 7 a.m. “All staff members and children are safe at the center,” according to Executive Director Bobbie Quiroz. She added that parents can still drop their children off at the facility.
It is the first day of the school year. It is also primary election day in Wyoming. Many of the schools are polling places. However, the three schools locked down were not polling places.
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