Crime & Safety
Police: Suwanee SWAT Standoff Suspect Forced Our Hand
The recent hostage-taking of Gwinnett firefighters ended with Lauren Holman Brown being shot dead by Gwinnett police.
The incident Wednesday in which a Suwanee man held five Gwinnett County firefighters hostage before being shot dead likely was planned, officials said Thursday.
Lauren Holman Brown told his captives during the incident that he chose firefighters as hostages "because he knew (police) would come armed," Gwinnett Police chief Charles Walters said Thursday at a news conference at police headquarters in Lawrenceville.
"That's an indication that he planned this."
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The incident began about 3:40 p.m. when Gwinnett Fire and Emergency officials received a call from 2440 Walnut Grove Way in unincorporated Suwanee. It ended shortly after 7:30 p.m. when police made the decision to enter the house because they felt Brown would not release the hostages even if his demands were met.
"He was not negotiating -- he was demanding," Walters said.
Find out what's happening in Gwinnettfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Read more on Suwanee Patch.
See also:
- Suwanee SWAT Standoff: 'It Was a Typical Call'
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