SWAT standoff at Upper Valley home ends as armed man accused of assaulting girlfriend surrenders

EL PASO, Texas -- An armed man, involved in what police described as a "family violence incident" surrendered to SWAT officers after being inside an Upper Valley home for several hours Monday.

The situation unfolded at 997 White River Place.

A police detective said 25-year-old Pedro Romero broke into the home about 7 a.m. and assaulted his girlfriend, 35-year-old Wendy Valenzuela, before she was able to escape with a small child.

Police indicated Romero then barricaded himself in the home with a rifle and a standoff ensued with a SWAT team.

Det. Diane Mack said Romero finally surrendered about noon after negotiations with a police crisis management team. He was being charged with burglary and also faces separate charges from four outstanding warrants.

Throughout the standoff, Westside Drive between Artcraft and Borderland was closed as officers tried to keep people in the area at a distance and out of the "line of sight" of the suspected gunman.

Garcia Elementary School in the Canutillo Independent School District was also under a perimeter lockout as a precaution during the standoff, a school spokesperson said, although classes continued as usual during that time.