Hoax phone call triggers standoff

A supposed hostage standoff at a McDonald’s restaurant Monday began with a hoax about a gunman and escalated when employees and customers retreated into a freezer after seeing a large police presence outside, authorities said.

A gunman was nowhere to be found, and the 12 employees and two customers appeared to be fine, Hampton police spokeswoman Cpl. Allison Good said.

Police responded to a cell phone call at 1:54 p.m. by a caller who claimed to have a gun inside the restaurant. Police officers quickly headed to the scene.

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Managers saw police swarming outside and apparently ordered the employees and customers into the freezer, which locks from the inside, Good said. The first officers on the scene saw a man standing at the restaurant doorway, and he quickly bolted into the restaurant and disappeared from sight.

A SWAT team surrounded the building, and hostage negotiators tried but failed to contact the man, Good said.

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Police also set up a command post near the restaurant, blocked traffic within a half-mile radius and asked people in nearby buildings to remain indoors.

About 4:40 p.m, a SWAT team freed the people from inside the freezer using a key that opened it from the outside, police said. And less than an hour later, officers searched the restaurant and announced there was no gunman.