Standoff ends peacefully after father held children hostage in Montclare, police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A standoff ended peacefully in Chicago's Montclare neighborhood after an armed man held his two children hostage in their home for hours, police said.

Officers responded to a report of a man with a gun in the 3000-block of North Harlem Avenue around 6:20 a.m. Tuesday.

Upon arrival, police found a woman who had been kicked out of her apartment by her husband. He was armed with a handgun. Police learned he was holding the couple's two children hostage. They are 4 and 9 years old.

People in the area, like Sue Magliano, went several hours without any information about what was going on.

"I walk out of the building and I see an officer with a gun, rifle, whatever it was. I'm like, 'Ah!' I didn't know, because of the shooting. I'm just going around like, 'Oh my God!'" Magliano said.

Squad cars blocked off Harlem Avenue between West Barry and West Wellington avenues as employees inside nearby businesses watched the situation unfold.

"After several conversations with the subject, they were able to have him come out of the apartment with the children, safely," CPD Cmdr. Maria Pena said.

The barricade situation ended around 10 a.m. Tuesday. Police recovered the handgun.

No one was injured.