Murder Suspect in Standoff

A murder suspect barricaded himself inside an apartment and held police at bay Thursday night while authorities feared for the safety of a 6-month-old child trapped inside, authorities said.

The standoff began about 7:20 after plainclothes police from Escondido and West Covina tried to arrest Mario Preza, 34, on a warrant issued April 20 for a narcotics-connected murder in Escondido, said Deputy Rich Erickson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which assisted in the investigation.

Police traced the Preza to an apartment near East Kenoak Drive and surrounded the building.

Preza instead sent out a 14-year-old boy to tell police he wasn’t there. However, the youngster confirmed that Preza was inside, Erickson said.

Three more children emerged from the residence a short time later and told police that a 6-month-old baby was still inside. Erickson said it was not immediately determined if the child was being held hostage.

A SWAT team and a mediator were called to the scene, and a command post was set up near the intersection of Kenoak Drive and Grandview Avenue. No shots had been fired by 9 p.m.

Erickson said a portion of the apartment complex and some nearby homes were evacuated.