A New York man was taken into custody after an hourslong standoff inside a home that ended after police talked a woman through an escape before finding the alleged attacker hiding in the attic.
John Howell, 40, is accused of threatening two victims — a 44-year-old male and 56-year-old female — inside a home on Long Island on Saturday. Howell physically assaulted the victims inside the home and threatened them with a knife, police said in a report from local news station News12 Long Island.
He then allegedly barricaded himself inside the home and refused to allow officers inside the home.
A police car is seen in front of the Nassau County (N.Y.) residence where John Howell allegedly assaulted two people and threatened them with a knife before they were able to escape (via News12 Long Island). Inset: John Howell (Nassau County Police Department via 1010 WINS).
Police were initially notified by the male victim, who had managed to escape, News12 reported. The Nassau County Police Hostage Negotiation Team was also on the scene and was able to communicate with the female victim over the phone.
According to News12, negotiators were able to help her escape.
Police then breached the home and reportedly found Howell hiding in the attic. He was arrested by Nassau County police and taken into custody.
Newsday reported that Howell was charged with two counts of third-degree assault, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of second-degree menacing and first-degree unlawful imprisonment.
Howell has an extensive criminal history, according to Newsday. He reportedly served nearly six years in prison for assault and drug convictions, Newsday said, citing prison records. Most recently, he was released from the maximum security Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 2021, and his post-release supervision expired one month ago.
It was not immediately clear how Howell got into the home or whether he knew the victims.
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