Shots Fired Prior to Armed Standoff in Downtown Minersville

A Pottsville man was arrested early Thursday morning following an hours-long armed standoff at a home in Minersville.

Michael Kramer, 41, has been charged with aggravated assault and other related charges after he allegedly fired shots in a home and then through a front door. One bullet struck a parked vehicle outside.

During the standoff, police say Kramer briefly held two children inside the home.

Police in Minersville say they were called to a home at 564 Sunbury St. at about 11 p.m. Wednesday for a report of shots fired.

When they arrived, police say they learned that Kramer had physically assaulted a woman inside and then got her gun and held it to his own head before pointing it at the victim.

Kramer then allegedly fired the gun into a wall upstairs in an attempt to scare the victim.

Police say Kramer then threatened to kill the woman and her children.

The altercation continued to the first floor of the home. That’s when Kramer allegedly fired another round through the front door, attempting to shoot the victim’s vehicle. Instead, he hit another parked car.

The victim, police say, engaged in a struggle with Kramer and was able to dislodge the magazine from his gun and took possession of it.

As police arrived at the scene, Kramer had a handgun pointed at his head. Neighbors of this incident were evacuated from their homes.

The victim was rescued from the home and police say they negotiated with Kramer to release two children he had inside. Kramer complied and released the children but he then barricaded himself in the home with a gun pointed at his head.

Police say they continued negotiating with Kramer to give himself up and he eventually did. Kramer was taken into custody without further incident.

The standoff lasted for approximately three hours. Officers from Minersville joined by police from Pottsville, Saint Clair, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Frackville, and Pennsylvania State Police. Minersville EMS and Fire Police were also at the scene.

Route 901 through Minersville was closed for approximately three hours during this incident.

Kramer was arraigned before District Magistrate Judge Edward Tarantelli overnight and charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangerment, making terroristic threats, and criminal mischief.

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