Harrisonburg shelter in place lifted, suspect in custody

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – After a nearly 11 hour-long standoff, the Harrisonburg Police Department has arrested a man following Sunday’s shelter-in-place.

The suspect in custody is Jason Mercado, 28, of Harrisonburg, according to HPD. He is being charged with two counts of felony abduction.

Jason Mercado, 28, of Harrisonburg was taken into custody around 1:20 a.m. Monday morning.(Harrisonburg Police Department)

Around 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon, HPD first responded to a call regarding a man swinging around a machete and talking to himself in the 1200 block of Virginia Avenue.

Upon their arrival, Mercado barricaded himself in a home with an AR-15 style rifle. HPD Patrol Officers, Major Crimes Detectives, Crisis Negotiation Team members and the HPD S.W.A.T team responded and began trying to make contact to get Mercado out of the home.

Officers were able to confirm two women were inside in a safe place. After hours of negotiations between HPD and Mercado, the women were safely escorted out of the home around 10:45 p.m. and taken to Sentara RMH Medical Center for evaluation. HPD said they are unaware of any injuries.

Peaceful negotiations to get Mercado to exit the home continued to be unsuccessful, HPD said, as Mercado “refused” to comply. Harrisonburg Police S.W.A.T then executed a search warrant, but due to the nature of Mercado’s behavior, chose to deploy gas into the house, encouraging him to leave peacefully.

Just after 1:20 a.m. Monday, HPD officers and Virginia State Police deployed multiple cans of gas, which led Mercado to exit the home. He was then arrested and taken to Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail after being evaluated by Harrisonburg Rescue Squad.

Previous report:

Units from the Harrisonburg Police Department are responding to a mental health call involving a weapon in the northern part of the city.

UPDATE AS OF 1:45 a.m.: The shelter in place as been lifted and the suspect is in custody. HPD will remain in the area for some time.

UPDATE as of 11:00 p.m.: Two individuals inside the home were safely removed and are being transported by Harrisonburg Rescue Squad to Sentara RMH to be checked out, HPD said. HPD said it is unaware of any injuries to the two individuals.

The armed individual remains inside the home and is believed to be the only person inside. The scene remains a barricade situation and nearby community members are asked to remain inside in a safe location until this situation is resolved, HPD said.

As of 7:30 p.m.: The shelter in place has been lifted for everyone except those living in the 1200 block of Virginia Avenue. Residents in the 1200 block should remain sheltering in place, HPD said. The scene is still active and Virginia Ave. remains closed to traffic.

As of 6:20 p.m.: HPD is still working to get the individual out of the home who is currently armed and experiencing a mental health crisis. There are at least two other individuals who are in the home with him, and HPD is working to communicate with him in order to assess how he can be supported and bring the situation to a safe conclusion.

A shelter in place has been issued for the surrounding area near the 1200 block of Virginia Avenue, where there is a heavy police presence, according to HPD’s Facebook page. Residents in the area of the city should stay inside their homes until the order has been lifted, HPD said.

As of 4:25 p.m., Virginia Avenue is closed to northbound traffic at Mount Clinton Pike and southbound traffic at Parkwood Drive while police respond, according to HPD. HPD advised travelers to use an alternate route in this area of the city.

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