Four people, including children, taken hostage at gunpoint in Issaquah; suspect believed dead

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — The suspect who held an Issaquah family hostage is believed to be the man found dead Monday inside the burned home after an hours-long standoff.

The man, identified as Blake Shahiem Parivar, was armed when he took his sister and her family hostage Saturday evening, officials said.

>>PHOTOS: Issaquah house burns during standoff

All four hostages, including two kids 5 and 8 years old, were later rescued Sunday with Parivar still inside a home on Isola Place Northwest.

Police responded around 7:30 p.m. Saturday to a suspicious circumstances call. While investigating, a 28-year-old man, later identified as the brother of the homeowner, entered the house. Police said he had a felony warrant.

A SWAT team was called in to negotiate and after five and a half hours, they got the woman’s fiancé and two children out without injuries and then got her out, too.

"She was in a different place than the kids and the boyfriend at the time the initial rescue happened, that’s my understanding. So, they weren’t able to get to her, so she was there 10 more hours until they were able to rescue her,” Washington State Patrol Trooper Chase Van Cleave said.

Negotiations to try to get the suspect to surrender were not successful.

Around 1 p.m., law enforcement officials said the house, with the suspect still barricaded inside, caught fire.

Issaquah police later tweeted that in order to battle the fire at the home, Puget Sound Energy had to shut off power to all the houses in the neighborhood.

There were reports the suspect fired a gun. Police don’t believe the man fired at any SWAT officers. They announced Monday afternoon they found a body believed to be him. The cause of death is expected to be released later this week.

Prior to the standoff, Blake Parivar had a warrant for felony domestic violence assault and unlawful imprisonment. That warrant was from February 6. Police also said he was a heavy meth user.

This house is a total loss. The investigation is ongoing. Below is the Monday afternoon news briefing by the State Patrol:

Law enforcement officials held a Sunday news briefing about standoff:

RAW: Officers hold news briefing after hourslong standoff in Issaquah An armed man with a felony warrant took four people, including two small children, hostage Saturday evening in Issaquah, officials said.

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