Three-Hour Barricade Standoff In Valdosta Ends With Armed Suspect In Custody

VALDOSTA, Ga. – A three-hour standoff involving an armed suspect with multiple active arrest warrants ended peacefully Monday afternoon after police negotiators persuaded the man to surrender, according to the Valdosta Police Department.

The incident began around 3 p.m. Jan. 19, when officers were speaking with a victim who reported he had been in the Hudson Dockett area when a man grabbed a rifle from his vehicle, pointed it at him, and demanded money. The victim said the suspect took the cash and walked away. He later told officers he did not wish to pursue charges and only wanted his rifle returned.

At the same time, officers received a separate call about a 26-year-old man, later identified as Quashawn Lamar Little, who had active arrest warrants and had entered an apartment in Hudson Dockett. Police were informed that Little was armed with a rifle. Officers determined the description of Little matched that of the suspect involved in the reported robbery and confirmed he had multiple outstanding warrants.

Officers made verbal contact with Little through an open apartment window and informed him of the warrants, instructing him to exit and surrender. Police said Little refused to comply and claimed he was holding a woman hostage, also threatening to engage officers in a shootout.

After confirming Little was the only person inside the apartment, officers secured the surrounding area. The department’s Tactical Operations Unit and Crisis Negotiations Unit were activated. Negotiators communicated with Little via FaceTime and observed that he was in possession of the rifle.

Negotiations continued for approximately three hours, including coordination with Little’s family. At about 6 p.m., Little exited the apartment and was taken into custody by tactical officers without incident. The stolen rifle was recovered inside the residence.

Investigators later determined Little was also a suspect in a Jan. 17 robbery at a convenience store located at 1305 North Troup Street. In that incident, a 44-year-old man reported being assaulted as he exited the store and having his wallet stolen. The victim sustained severe facial injuries and was transported to South Georgia Medical Center for treatment. Surveillance video later identified Little as the suspect, and officers had been preparing to seek additional warrants at the time of the standoff.

Little was transported to the Lowndes County Jail. He faces charges including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, obstruction of an officer, robbery, aggravated battery, and eight additional active warrants unrelated to the standoff.

Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan praised officers for their response.

“I am so proud of the team effort from the members of our department,” Manahan said. “They responded to a very tense and stressful situation and handled it professionally.”