Armed Man Ends 41-Hour Police Standoff

A man with a knife released his estranged wife and children and ended a 41-hour standoff Wednesday, two weeks after his brother temporarily took 80 children hostage.

Police said the standoffs were not related, though both may have stemmed from domestic disputes.

James Riccardo Lipscomb, 43, emerged from his wife’s apartment shortly after noon Wednesday and was gently led away by police. Then came his wife, Denise Roach, 12-year-old Sherissa Lipscomb and 7-year-old Jama Lipscomb. James Lipscomb had let the couple’s 9-year-old son leave Monday night.

Police did not immediately give details on any charges.

The standoff began Monday night when Lipscomb found another man in the apartment and threatened Roach with a knife.

According to court records, he received five years’ probation for hitting Roach with his hand and a screwdriver in 1996.

His brother, James Monroe Lipscomb Jr., took 80 children hostage Dec. 17 at a day-care center in nearby Plano. He quickly released most of the children and five adults, then let the rest go and surrendered the next day. He remains jailed on kidnapping charges.

James Monroe Lipscomb’s wife worked at the day-care center, and the couple had had problems.