So, when you wake up in the morning, take a shower, get ready for another shift; what do you think about as far as how that shift is going to go? Emergency services folks always know in the back of their mind they may be giving their last full measure of devotion today. Every year, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation pays tribute to those wearing the bunker gear that lost their life in the past year. Having been through a firefighter funeral, I will say that losing a brother or sister in the service is not a good thing, but most of us don't think about it on a daily basis. More specifically, many of us don't even think about it when we arrive to a house that is raging from all sides knowing we still have to do our jobs.
So really, what do you think about? I would always start the shift by taking a shower and getting my uniform on. Many days, the next question would be what are we doing for breakfast, unless I was bring it in that day. We checked off the truck and ensured that we were ready to complete the assignments that we could potentially face that day, then it was time for the next project. Nope, never really thought about the potential of being faced with a crazy victim pulling a gun on me. I have been in some unique positions. My brother/sisters and I have witness some interesting stuff over the years, but it still never made me fear the next call. Respect them all, but not fear.
On this day though, the firefighters of Gwinnett County Georgia were going to face a dramatic scene, one that you would typically only think to see on that of a set of Law and Order or Chicago Fire. At 1548 (reported time) an individual that had been mastermining a plan to get his utilities turned back on, made a call to the 9-1-1 system stating that he was experiencing chest pain. The home was in a nice part of town and those around were well kept. The initial call was without any expressed issue and the dispatchers didn't note anything that would have made a difference in the way the call was handled. The hostage taker was careful in crafting his scenario to have firefighters and EMS arrived instead of police so he wouldn't be shot as the responders entered the home. Upon arrival, the firefighters still didn't notice anything that would have caused them to really be concerned. The found the individual lying in bed, until they got closer. That is when the normal turned violent.
There are reports that the victim wasn't know to be prone to violence and this was out of character for what he was noted to be. However, the individual had lost his wife who was now leaving with his kids and another man in a house across the street. While they were thriving his house had been foreclosed upon months earlier and the utilities had been terminated due to non-payment. An individual who was a self proclaimed good money manager was losing his world around him. In his mind the only way to correct this was this situation.
In the old days, people would find help. They would work more, sell their house, find ways to deal with what was going on. Now, we create an elaborate plan to kidnap 5 emergency service employees that were simply looking to make somebodies life a little better before heading to the hospital for treatment. They were looking to ease the pain of a hurting body, not to become victims of violence themselves. These firefighters were husbands/wives/mothers/daughters/sons etc (i'm not sure all their demographic information) and in one fail swoop they become victims. Being held captive against their will at the hands of a madman. One that would fail to make it out of the house alive.
After more than 3.5 hours, the SWAT operators determined they were not going to be able to talk this individual down and that it was time to end the stand-off. As one of the operators was bringing fast food to the door (food the hostage taker requested) other operators introduced a percussion device into the house. Once the device went off, the operator that was taking the food to the door breached the residence and began a furious exchange of gun fire which led to the death of the suspect.
Today we pray for the safe recovery of the SWAT operator who received a gun shot wound to his left arm, and to the four firefighters who remained in the residence that received concussions in the event. We know that this event is not something that we all would easily forget, but we know you will forever be effected. Your brother and sisters are standing at your six and stand in your post till you are ready to return.
Take Care and Stay Safe! The Combomedic
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