Warminster standoff ends, elderly woman killed

WARMINSTER, Pa. - February 20, 2013

Police say a 90-year-old woman was killed during the exchange of gunfire. It is unclear on who fired the deadly shot.

The elderly woman was a neighbor and officials say she died at the scene from her wounds.

49-year-old Andrew Cairns surrendered around 2:30 a.m., authorities say, inside the 2000 building of the Jefferson on the Creek apartments in the 600 block of East Street Road.

The incident began just before 8:00 p.m. when police were called to a unit in the complex.

Police say, Cairns had been arguing with his common law wife.

When officers arrived, Cairns fired shots at them.

He barricaded himself inside one of the apartments in the complex.

The units closest to Cairns were evacuated and that affected about 60 people, while the rest of the complex was locked down.

Residents were told to get in their homes and stay there and no one was allowed into the complex.

Authorities worked for several hours to get the gunman to come out of the apartment on his own.

SWAT teams were called in to assist in the standoff.

The Red Cross set up a shelter at William Tennent High School for anyone displaced.

Police are investigating and the name of the elderly woman killed has not been released.

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