HINGHAM, Mass. — Hingham Police said the man who barricaded himself inside his apartment and prompted a SWAT response has been arrested after shooting at responding officers. No one was hurt.
Pharaoh L. Yahtues, 37, of Hingham, was arrested at around 12:45 p.m. following the standoff that prompted a shelter-in-place at the Avalon at the Hingham Shipyard apartment complex.
Police were dispatched to the complex shortly after 6 a.m. for a disturbance in the apartment. After a three-hourslong standoff, Yahtues turned himself in without incident and police took him into custody. The area around the incident is safe and the shelter in place is over.
Police called the incident a domestic issue.
At the scene, officers spoke to a woman and two children in the lobby of the apartment building who said they had been inside the apartment. They told police Yahtues had a handgun.
Officers tried speaking to Yahtues through the door so he’d come outside, but he threatened to shoot police and kept making statements about “suicide by cop,” Hingham Police said in a news release.
Another man then called 911 saying he was inside the apartment and that he had locked himself in a bedroom fearing for his life.
Yahtues allegedly fired several shots from his apartment window at SWAT officers who were inside and around the armored SWAT vehicle. He also threw an unexploded device onto his patio.
Police said during the situation that no one was hurt and that immediate residents were evacuated. A reverse 911 call was sent to people in the area, telling them to shelter in place and stay away from windows. The apartment complex also emailed Avalon residents the following:
Man who lives in Avalon apartment complex at Hingham Shipyard sent me this email they just received urging residents to stay inside @boston25 pic.twitter.com/uDd6DlXH88
— Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) January 25, 2020
Shipyard Drive had been closed to traffic for the duration of the standoff.
The Foster Elementary School opened for people if they needed a warm place to say, Hingham Police said. Buses were made available to help transport people who needed to stay indoors.
Remember, during an active fluid incident such as this to NOT post pics or videos of Police or SWAT locations or describe their positions. This can threaten their safety. Thank you. #Hingham
— Hingham Police (@HinghamPolice) January 25, 2020
1/2 We have a barricaded subject inside home on HMS Fitzroy Dr. with a gun who fired shots at the SWAT team. No injuries. Immediate residents have already been evacuated. Reverse 9-1-1 telling others in general area to shelter in place away from windows...
— Hingham Police (@HinghamPolice) January 25, 2020
2/2 This is a very active scene and we are working to negotiate with subject who is alone in house. Shipyard Drive is closed to thru traffic. All official info will come from this account. Meida should stage in CVS far lot on Lincoln St. .
— Hingham Police (@HinghamPolice) January 25, 2020
Yahtues is being charged with armed assault to murder, discharging an explosive, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a license, disturbing the peace, and possession of a theft detection removal device.
A temporary warrant was issued for his arrest during this incident because the GPS tracking device that Yahtues had been ordered to wear was cut off.
He is being held without bail and will be arraigned at Hingham District Court on Monday.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
