23-Hour Police Standoff In Central Florida Ends Peacefully

LAKELAND, FL — A 23-hour police standoff that began on New Year's Day ended peacefully Thursday night as 30-year-old Nickolus P. Johnson was taken into custody by Polk County Sheriff's deputies in central Florida.

The standoff began around 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 1 when Johnson allegedly opened fire on his former Tampa girlfriend after she attempted to pick up her two young children from the home of Johnson's mother on Deeson Road in Lakeland.

"Johnson refused to come out of his mother's home with two children, ages 9 and 4, after deputies responded to his mother's home," explained Scott Wilder of the Polk County Sheriff's Office..

Wilder said Johnson's mother was not home at the time of the incident. He allegedly fired as many as four shots from a handgun at his former girlfriend, who was not identified by police.

"She fled and called 9-1-1," Wilder said. "She was uninjured."

Wilder said Polk County Sheriff's deputies set up a perimeter around the
house and established communications with Johnson.

"He advised the children were OK and he was not coming out of the residence," Wilder said. "Over the last 23 hours Johnson assured deputies he did not want to hurt the children. Johnson
fluctuated from being irate to calm without warning or provocation."

The sheriff's office SWAT team remained on duty throughout the overnight hours of Wednesday into Thursday until they were relieved by the Lakeland Police Department's SWAT team Thursday morning. The sheriff's office SWAT team came back on duty later in the day.

"Negotiators continued to communicate with Johnson, off and on, throughout the
day," Wilder said. "This evening deputies were able to make contact with Johnson near the
front door of the home and were able to safely take him into custody."

Wilder said both children were in good condition as they were reunited with family members.

Johnson was to be charged with attempted murder and other charges.