(Neb.) - Standoff in Alliance is over, three remain hospitalized  Listen

By: John Thayer Posted at: 06/13/2012 12:27 AM

ALLIANCE – After nearly 15 hours, the standoff in Alliance is over.

Around 11:30 Tuesday evening members of the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team enter Thiele Pharmacy and Gifts and multiple gun shots were fired. The members exited the building and officers outside the building put down their guns. The Alliance fire department left downtown Alliance after City Manager J.D. Cox confirmed the ordeal was over. The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Andres Gonzales, died in the gunbattle.

The situation began Tuesday morning before 9:00 when an armed gunman entered the pharmacy. The gunman shot an officer from Alliance, Kirk Felker, before taking one man, Chas Lierk, hostage. The City of Alliance went on lockdown and the downtown area was blocked off. Felker remained hospitalized Tuesday night recovery from non-life threatening injuries.

Police escorted people from surrounding businesses to their homes throughout the morning.

Around 10:30 a.m. a trooper with the SWAT team, Tim Flick, suffered gunshot wounds to his left side. Flick remains at Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance and is in “serious, but stable” condition. Alliance police officer Matt Shannon suffered a shrapnel wound at the time of Flick’s injury. Shannon was treated and released from the hospital.

The Nebraska State Patrol reached the suspect by phone and negotiations began.

Around 4:30 p.m. after seven hours of being held inside the pharmacy the hostage was able to escape, but was wounded. The extent of his injuries has not been released at this time. Lierk is reportedly resting comfortably and doing fine.

A press conference was held Tuesday evening in Alliance while the standoff continued.

The Nebraska State Patrol was assisted by law enforcement from Alliance, Scottsbluff and Chadron Police Departments, the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office and Dawes County Sheriff’s Office. Assistance was also provided by the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department, Nebraska Department of Roads and the Alliance Street Department.

 (Courtesy Photo)

(Click "Listen" to hear the 12 minute press conference from Tuesday evening)

Comments: