An armed 56-year-old man barricaded himself in a New Castle-area home for more than four hours, causing a neighborhood and a school to lock down.

The man, Thomas Porter, has since been taken into custody and charges are pending, said Officer First Class Grigori Lopez-Garcia of the New Castle County Police Department.

The incident began at 11 a.m. when police responded to a domestic dispute on Catherine Street. When officers arrived, Porter ran back inside his home with a shotgun and threatened to harm himself, Lopez-Garcia said.

The homeowner refused to leave, and he was armed with at least one firearm. There was one other in the home, but it was not a hostage situation, Lopez-Garcia said.

Backup was called, and neighbors were instructed to shelter in place with a reverse 911 call, Lopez-Garcia said.

Catherine Street was roped off as more than a dozen police cars, including the New Castle County Emergency communication vehicle, blocked the entrance into the neighborhood from Del. 273.

SWAT officers geared up in the parking lot of Pleasantville Country Maid convenience store.

Police contacted Porter via telephone, and he later walked out of the home and surrendered around 3 p.m., Lopez-Garcia said.

"We are thankful to residents of Catherine Street who helped us bring this incident to a peaceful resolution," Lopez-Garcia said.

Nearby Pleasantville Elementary, in the Colonial School District, was on a partial lockdown out of what police called "an abundance of caution."

"Students and staff are safe and classes are continuing," the district posted on Facebook.

Pleasantville was not involved in the incident and dismissed at the normal time.

Police will release Porter's charges once they become available, Lopez-Garcia said.