A heavily armed man is dead after police stormed his home in suburban Atlanta (GA) to rescue four firefighters taken hostage when they responded to a 911 call for medical attention, details the New York Times (http://usat.ly/XDN8ld).
A SWAT team used “flash-bang” or concussion grenades (http://bit.ly/ZNxCNI) to enter the home on a leafy block and take the gunman by surprise. Authorities said there was an exchange of gunfire. Five firefighters were initially held hostage. One was released shortly after he was held captive, leaving four in the house when police entered it with grenades. Authorities said one police officer was wounded in the exchange of gunfire.
USA Today (http://usat.ly/XDN8ld) reports that the firefighters suffered superficial injuries when officers detonated a flash-bang grenade as they entered.
Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Edwin Ritter told news outlets that the unidentified gunman was facing eviction and wanted the power and cable TV turned back on.
“The SWAT team commander believed their lives were in immediate danger and it was the time to go in there,” Ritter said. “It’s an unfortunate circumstance. We did not want this to end this way, but with the decisions this guy was making, this was his demise.”
CNN (http://bit.ly/Znzs89) details that neighbors said earlier in the day that all five firefighters had gone inside the two-story home with a stretcher, then a single firefighter ran out about 30 minutes later.
One fire engine and one ambulance had arrived in response to the call, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constituion (http://bit.ly/ZNxCNI). In Gwinnett, firefighters are cross-trained as emergency medical responders and a medical emergency is a routine call for them.
Police Killed Gunman Holding Georgia Firefighters Hostage
Must View
Fort Lauderdale (FL) Firefighters Save Dogs From House Fire, Department Says
Firefighters pulled four dogs from a smoldering Fort Lauderdale home that was in flames just minutes earlier Thursday morning, according to the department.
4,000 Pigs Lost in MN Barn Fire
A fire late Wednesday evening has resulted in a total loss of a hog confinement and the 4,000 hogs inside.