Hours-long Standoff Involving Hostage in St. Louis Home Ends

Authorities say an hours-long standoff in which a man was holding a hostage in a St. Louis residence has ended, though it is not immediately clear if anyone was harmed.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports most nearby residents who had been kept away from their homes were allowed to return after the incident ended around 11 p.m. Sunday. Police didn't immediately release information about how the standoff was resolved.

Police at the scene told the newspaper the dispatch call came in around 10:30 a.m. Sunday. They said a man with a shotgun had barricaded himself inside with one hostage. Authorities said the incident was drug related, and a hazardous materials team was on the scene.

Officers had blocked off a section of about eight city blocks.

Police couldn't immediately be reached by The Associated Press for comment.