The reports regarding this incident are accurate. Two elderly brothers were arrested on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, following a tense, multi-hour tactical standoff at a residential home in Imperial Beach, California.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department released the formal details of the high-risk response.
The Incident on Granger Avenue
According to deputies from the Sheriff’s Imperial Beach Substation, the conflict began around 1:00 PM:
The Initial Call: Residents living in a home in the 1200 block of Granger Avenue returned to find that the locks on their doors had been entirely changed.
The Firearm Threat: As one of the residents looked through a window to see what was happening inside, they reported seeing the barrel of a black handgun pointed directly at them. The residents quickly retreated to safety and dialed 911.
The Perimeter: Arriving deputies immediately secured the area, established a rigid perimeter, and shut down traffic to protect the surrounding neighborhood.
The Landlord and the Standoff
After repeated orders from law enforcement for the occupants to step outside, one male eventually exited the home:
Matthew Sanchez (76): Upon stepping outside, Matthew Sanchez claimed to deputies that he was the property’s landlord and asserted that he was trying to evict the tenants. However, he informed deputies that his brother was still inside and was refusing to comply with orders.
Andrew Sanchez (76): The second brother, Andrew, barricaded himself inside the residence and ignored all commands to surrender.
Tactical Response and Arrests
Because deputies heavily suspected the remaining brother was armed, the scene was escalated. Additional specialized resources were deployed to the Imperial Beach neighborhood, including:
The Sheriff’s emergency helicopter (ASTREA)
The Crisis Negotiations Team
The Special Enforcement Detail (SED / SWAT unit)
After several hours of negotiations, Andrew Sanchez peacefully walked out of the home and surrendered without further incident. He was immediately taken into custody and found to be carrying ammunition.
Detectives subsequently secured a search warrant for the property, discovering a black handgun hidden inside the house.
Formal Charges
Both men were booked into local jail facilities on serious criminal allegations:
Andrew Sanchez was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
Matthew Sanchez was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a crime.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the neighborhood and publicly thanked Imperial Beach residents for their cooperation and patience during the prolonged tactical lockdown.
