UPDATE: Man Wanted on Murder and Kidnapping Charges Arrested After Verona Standoff

Pittsburgh police have confirmed that Frank Perez Jr., who is wanted on murder charges in Indiana and kidnapping charges in Mexico, is in custody after an afternoon standoff in Verona.

Law enforcement officials led Perez from an apartment building in Verona after a standoff with SWAT, FBI and police.

Perez was wearing a white shirt and was in handcuffs as he was escorted from the building shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Center Avenue in Verona in between Allegheny River Boulevard and Athletic Street has been closed off as police, FBI and SWAT officials tried to detain a Perez. Officials are now conducting a sweep of the building to make sure there are no bombs or other weapons.

South Avenue is also blocked off and residents in the area of the apartment building have been evacuated.

Verner Elementary on First Street dismissed students after 5 p.m. after being on lockdown for the afternoon.

Cindy Franck's Day Care at the corner of Seventh and Center was on lockdown but Donna Gravelle, assistant to the director, said children are now being released to their parents, though they are keeping the doors locked.

According to WTAE-TV, FBI spokesman Jeff Killeen identified the suspect as 30-year-old Frank Perez, who is wanted on a homicide charge in Lake County, Indiana, and a kidnapping charge in Mexico.

Perez fired a gun at agents on Tuesday, and is known to have fired on law enforcement on a prior occasion, Killeen said.

Sue Flinn of First Street said she noticed police outside of her home
around 2 p.m.

"I heard eight to 10 quick gunshots," she said. "I stayed on my porch until the FBI told me to go inside."

Flinn said police were telling all residents to go inside their homes. Residents on Center and a portion of Poplar Street were evacuated.

Denny Wyckoff who lives in Penn Hills on the Verona hilltop said it's awful to see an incident of this magnitude in the community.

"It feels bad," he said. "I'm shocked this is happening here."

Nick Rehak of Verona works at Sunseri Pizza on Allegheny River Boulevard. He said Perez came into the shop often and was known as "h-dawg."

"He seemed like a really nice guy," Rehak said. "He'd always come in and talk to us."

Perez also is known as Kenneth Leon Simms. According to KDKA-TV,  Killeen said authorities negotiated with Perez to surrender. He will be facing several charges in connection to the murder and kidnapping, as well as unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Several police officers on scene would not comment further on the matter.