Firefighter Describes Hostage Taker as 'Delusional'

Early in last week's hostage ordeal in Suwanee, it became obvious to the captives what they were dealing with.

Captor Lauren Brown was "delusional," firefighter Tim Hollingsworth said Tuesday (April 16) at a news conference at Gwinnett Fire headquarters.

"He had family and financial problems. He wanted certain people to see what happened, and live the rest of their lives with guilt."

Hollingsworth and the four other firefighters discussed their ordeal publicly for the first time Tuesday. And Hollingsworth made it clear that he felt Brown, who was shot to death by a Gwinnett Police SWAT officer, wanted to create a disaster.

But the firefighters' calm actions during captivity have been praised all along -- and obviously enabled SWAT officers to end the ordeal without Brown's disastrous desires being realized.

"We wanted to be his buddy," firefighter Jody Moss said. "It would be harder to shoot us if we were his friend."

Still, there were troubling signs of a possible outcome. Brown held a gun during the entire ordeal, and firefighters could not be sure that he did not have an explosive device under his bed covers.

Ropes and chairs were seen in the bathroom of Brown's bedroom where the hostages were held.

Also, when Hollingsworth retrieved coffee and Brown's phone charger, he placed them by the nightstand, close to Brown, who remained in bed. "If we had to act, it was a reason for us to get close enough to him to overtake him."

Hollingsworth added that if Brown had tried to use the rope and chairs, "that would have been a defining moment for me."

Jody Moss, the one firefighter who was released by Brown, said he "made mental notes" of the house interior, "so SWAT would know what they've got."

See also:

• Audio: Gwinnett Firefighter Reports Armed Gunman
• Suwanee Hostage Taker's Family Releases Statement
• Hostage-Taker Dead After Gunfire Exchange With Gwinnett SWAT Team

~ Suwanee Patch