This story has been updated as of 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, with additional information provided by Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman
After nearly 29 tense hours, the armed standoff between a man barricaded in a Gering home and law enforcement is over.
Just after 8 p.m. Wednesday evening, the suspect, 37-year-old Bradley Garcia, was taken into custody and transported to Regional West Medical Center to be checked out for minor injuries, and then booked into the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center early Thursday morning.
Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman says Garcia is being held for numerous offenses that include multiple counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder for shots fired at law enforcement officers, Kidnapping, Terroristic Threats, Use of a Firearm to commit a Felony, Possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, Flight to avoid arrest and Child abuse. The Scotts Bluff County Attorney will have the final decision on which charges are filed with the court.
The incident began around 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon when Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to stop a vehicle in the vicinity of the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center on the east side of Gering. Chief Deputy Troy Brown said that officers initially attempted the stop because the vehicle was suspected to be involved in connection with allegedly stolen firearms. It was later determined that Garcia, the driver, also had an outstanding warrant.
When Garcia failed to stop, Deputies and Gering Police began a pursuit that went through portions of Gering before Garcia turned off of Five Rocks Road on the west side of Gering and crashed his vehicle into the garage at the house in the 2300 block of 19th Street. Brown said that Garcia shot at officers during the pursuit.
Due to the proximity of the home to Gering High School, all Gering schools were placed into a lockout or secure status, with controlled releases being done at all schools, except the high school. Officials began a controlled release at the high school later, and all students were safely removed by 6:15 p.m.
A high school volleyball team from another town was also at the school for a game that was to start, but all games and practices Tuesday night were cancelled. Classes were cancelled at all Gering Schools on Wednesday out of “an abundance of caution” and due to the proximity of the standoff to Gering High School and Northfield Elementary School.
The home that Garcia crashed into is owned by his parents, and a sister-in-law and her two juvenile daughters were taken hostage when Garcia entered the home. About two hours after the standoff began, Garcia allowed the two minors to leave the home, but his sister-in-law was not released.
According to a social media video, streamed live from inside the home, Garcia had his sister-in-law call dispatchers and tell them that he wanted them to back off at least a block away or he would start shooting them with his 30-06 high-powered rifle. He can be heard telling the woman that he has a law enforcement officer in the scope’s crosshairs and he would shoot them if they didn’t back away.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including Scottsbluff Police and the Nebraska State Patrol responded immediately. In the video, Garcia also demanded to talk to the FBI because he said his civil rights had been violated.
FBI agents started to arrive late Tuesday night, and additional agents and tactical units from Virginia were on scene by early Wednesday morning.
Around 1:30 p.m., members of the FBI Hostage Rescue and SWAT teams took action that resulted in the rescue of the hostage, which was followed by FBI negotiators and tactical personnel making continual, unsuccessful attempts to communicate with Bradley Garcia so he would surrender.
Then, shortly after 2 p.m., multiple breech charges and flash bangs were set off at the home over the course of about an hour, along with commands being given to Garcia to come to the door with his hands up.
Authorities attempted to have Garcia surrender over the next few hours, and other than an occasional flash bang or verbal command, very little observable activity was witnessed at the scene by reporters in the late afternoon.
That changed, however, around 7:45 p.m., when it became apparent that officers had waited as long as they were going to for the suspect to surrender. Overman says Garcia had gained access to areas behind walls and within the attic. Reporters heard multiple flash bangs and authorities yelling commands at the suspect.
Reporters and eyewitnesses then reported hearing multiple gunshots, followed by three very loud percussions, described by some neighbors as “huge explosions” just after 8 p.m. The blasts were strong enough to set off car alarms in the area.
Overman says the tactical teams eventually deployed chemical agents, which caused Garcia to emerge from where he was hiding, and he was taken into custody. He was transported to Regional West Medical Center, and following medical clearance, lodged in the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center around 12:45 a.m. Thursday morning.
Overman said during the incident, residents heard multiple loud detonations as the teams used various munitions and equipment, however, no shots were fired by any law enforcement personnel at any time.
Gering Public Schools announced Wednesday night that classes would resume Thursday, providing the following statement: “Due to the confirmed resolution of the community safety incident near Gering High School, school will resume for all Gering Public School students and staff Thursday, September 28. We look forward to having students safely back in our buildings tomorrow.”
The FBI provided tactical assistance to help resolve the hostage situation safely and apprehend the subject. SWAT teams and negotiators from the Omaha and Denver field offices, as well as the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team out of Quantico, worked with our state and local partners to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “We are grateful for our strong partnership with the Scotts Bluff Sheriff’s Department, Gering Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, and every other agency which participated. Every agency brought a unique skill set which contributed to a successful outcome. We work closely with our state and local partners in Nebraska to protect the community from violent criminal activity. This operation was a great example of how teamwork between law enforcement agencies is critical during life-threatening incidents.”
Investigation at the scene of the incident continued Thursday, with law enforcement officials conducting a thorough sweep of the scene for evidence, which included 3D digital mapping of the exterior and interior of the home.
