Police: Children safe, man in custody after SWAT standoff

ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - A standoff between Atlanta SWAT officers and a man in Southwest Atlanta has ended with the suspect in custody and five children safely released.

Police told FOX 5's Kaitlyn Pratt the incident started as a domestic disturbance when officers called to a home on Graymont Drive at Venetian Drive.

When officers got to the home, they say the man, identified as 33-year-old Courtney Chones, refused to come out of the home.

Chone's girlfriend was able to leave the home, and she told officials that during a fight with Chones he fired a shot into the air.

While the woman was speaking to the officers, Chones allegedly barricaded himself in the home with five young children between the ages of 3 and 10.

After over five hours, all five children were allowed to be released from the home and are safe, according to their grandfather and Atlanta police.

Police then used gas to compel Chone to surrender. He is now in custody charged with simple battery, obstruction, and reckless conduct.