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Man used 13-year-old boy as human shield during hours-long standoff in east El Paso

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UPDATE (03/18): El Paso police say a man held a 13-year-old at knifepoint and used the boy as a human shield during a family violence disturbance call Thursday.

When police say they responded to the 10900 block of Bob Stone in east El Paso, a 36-year-old female told officers she was locked out of a home and 41-year-old Jose Francisco Diaz would not release her children.

Police say officers attempting to speak to Diaz saw him walking towards the door shielding himself with the 13-year-old boy while holding a knife to the boy's neck.

The other children in the home, ages 8 and 6 were heard crying inside the home.

Special Weapons and Tactics and Crisis Management Team mediated children's release, and Diaz surrendered. Diaz was arrested and charged with two counts of unlawful restraint and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond was set at $250,000.

Police add an officer had discharged his weapon during this incident. That discharge remains under investigation by the El Paso Police Department, Internal Affairs, Crimes Against Persons and The Texas Rangers.

Police say the officer is a 4 year veteran of the department and was placed on administrative leave followed by administrative duty.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- An hours-long SWAT standoff came to an end Thursday morning after El Paso police arrested a man who barricaded himself with three children in an eastside home.

Police identified the man as 41-year-old Jose Francisco Diaz. He's charge with one count of aggravated assault and two counts of unlawful restraint.

SWAT were called out to a family violence call just after 2:30 a.m.. Police said Diaz threatened to harm three children inside of a home on the 10900 block of Bob Stone.

Just after 4 a.m. the three children were let out of the home unharmed.

SWAT went into the home at around 8 a.m. and police said Diaz turned himself in. He was armed with a knife.

A spokesperson for the police department said one officer fired off a round at one point during the standoff, but did not strike anyone. That incident is being investigated by police internal affairs.

Diaz is being held under a $250,000 bond.

Police said the street will be closed off for a few more hours as they continue their investigation.

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Mauricio Casillas

El Paso native Mauricio Casillas is a former co-anchor of ABC-7’s Good Morning El Paso.

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