Standoff ends in NW Atlanta

A standoff at a home in northwest Atlanta ended peacefully late Friday morning when a murder suspect surrendered to police.

Atlanta police Sgt. Curtis Davenport said officers went to the house at 1020 Margaret Place before 6 a.m. to serve a warrant for a homicide but the suspect refused to surrender.

Hostage negotiators, the SWAT team and the fugitive unit were brought to the scene, he said.

"Our hostage negotiators set up a dialogue with this individual," Davenport said. "That dialogue lasted a little over five hours, at which point shortly after 11 o'clock this morning, the suspect did surrender without incident."

Davenport identified the suspect as Rasshun Bernard Johnson, 19. He declined to discuss the crime he is wanted for because the investigation is continuing.

Davenport said there were other people in the home, but "there were no hostages at any time. No one was being held against their will. When they wanted to leave, he allowed them to leave."