Posted 9:03 pm Friday, July 20, 2012
Send to Kindle
Standoff Results In Assault Charge
By TIM MONZINGO
Staff Writer
A Van Zandt County woman is facing a felony assault charge after a standoff Thursday morning with authorities.
Nancy Khabazian, 55, of Fruitvale, was taken into custody after deputies used tear gas to end a five-hour standoff, according to a news release issued by the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.
Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett said several deputies, constables and other law enforcement officers arrived on scene in Fruitvale on County Road 1920 around 8:30 a.m. after a man reported a woman pointing a gun at him.
“The man told the deputies that they both resided in the home and when he was making coffee she came up to him and pointed the gun at him, but the gun had jammed,” Burnett said. “The female suspect then attempted to stab the man with a kitchen knife.”
Burnett said at one point, Ms. Khabazian apparently pointed the handgun at her self and pulled the trigger as well, but the gun jammed again.
The victim was able to escape into the home’s bedroom and climb out through a window, he said.
Deputies repeatedly tried to make contact with Ms. Khabazian, who would not respond to any communications other than an occasional glance out the window, Burnett said.
Staff Writer
A Van Zandt County woman is facing a felony assault charge after a standoff Thursday morning with authorities.
Nancy Khabazian, 55, of Fruitvale, was taken into custody after deputies used tear gas to end a five-hour standoff, according to a news release issued by the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.
Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett said several deputies, constables and other law enforcement officers arrived on scene in Fruitvale on County Road 1920 around 8:30 a.m. after a man reported a woman pointing a gun at him.
“The man told the deputies that they both resided in the home and when he was making coffee she came up to him and pointed the gun at him, but the gun had jammed,” Burnett said. “The female suspect then attempted to stab the man with a kitchen knife.”
Burnett said at one point, Ms. Khabazian apparently pointed the handgun at her self and pulled the trigger as well, but the gun jammed again.
The victim was able to escape into the home’s bedroom and climb out through a window, he said.
Deputies repeatedly tried to make contact with Ms. Khabazian, who would not respond to any communications other than an occasional glance out the window, Burnett said.
Power was cut to the home around 10:30 a.m. and deputies waited another hour before launching tear gas, also known as CS gas, into the home to force Ms. Khabazian out of the home, he said.
“In these situations, you really have two choices,” Burnett said. “Either somebody gets hurt or you take your time and nobody gets hurt.”
Ms. Khabazian fled the home after the gas was released and did not struggle as deputies took her into custody, he said.
Burnett said officials are evaluating her to determine whether she needs to be incarcerated or to receive medical attention. He said no motive for the incident had been established as of 5:30 p.m.
Ms. Khabazian was in custody at the Van Zandt County Jail as of 5:50 p.m. on a $50,000 bond, authorities said. She’s charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, family violence, which is a second-degree felony, according to the Texas Penal Code.
“In these situations, you really have two choices,” Burnett said. “Either somebody gets hurt or you take your time and nobody gets hurt.”
Ms. Khabazian fled the home after the gas was released and did not struggle as deputies took her into custody, he said.
Burnett said officials are evaluating her to determine whether she needs to be incarcerated or to receive medical attention. He said no motive for the incident had been established as of 5:30 p.m.
Ms. Khabazian was in custody at the Van Zandt County Jail as of 5:50 p.m. on a $50,000 bond, authorities said. She’s charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, family violence, which is a second-degree felony, according to the Texas Penal Code.
