Police take armed man into custody after standoff at Orlando International Airport

pulse

May 31, 2017 2:35 AM

"Everyone is safe."

Law enforcement officers took a man into custody at Florida’s Orlando International Airport Tuesday night, after a nearly three-hour standoff that prompted a partial closure at the airport, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority said.

"Gunman in custody. Everyone is safe. We will brief ASAP at media briefing location," the Orlando Police Department tweeted.

The man was carrying a replica firearm, the Orlando Police Department said.

Police had contained the man near the rental-car area on the first floor of the airport for a time as crisis negotiators intervened.

Video of the incident depicted a tense scene: "You're not going to go to prison ... you're going to the hospital," one person could be heard yelling from off camera.

"Please don't lie to me, sir," responded another person.

Police quickly knocked down rumors of an active shooter incident at the airport. No shots were fired, police said.

A brief ground stop was ordered at the airport during the standoff and ended shortly before the suspect, Michael Pettigrew, 26, was taken into custody. Pettigrew was expected to be kept on a mental health hold, police said.

Orlando International Airport serves about 42.6 million passengers a year and operates with 35 commercial airlines, according to Reuters.