Man holding woman hostage inside Tumwater gas station

UPDATE: The standoff ended peacefully around 6:30 Sunday evening.  More information to follow.

TUMWATER - A man entered the USA gasoline station on Trosper Road Southwest in Tumwater Sunday, and pointed a gun at the two store employees, Tumwater Police reported. Detective Jen Kolb said that man entered the gas station around 9:30am, pointed the gun, and then told one of the employees to leave the store.  Kolb said that the remaining employee is the gunman's long time girlfriend.

Tumwater Police, along with the Thurston County Sheriff's SWAT team responded, along with a hostage negotiator.  The gunman reportedly told police that he just wanted to talk to his girlfriend, and just "needed 30 minutes", Kolb said.  After 30 minutes had passed, police contacted the gunman, who said that he needed more time talking to his girlfriend.

Police have closed the intersection of Trosper Road Southwest and Littlerock Road.  This is a developing news story and we will update as new information becomes available.