CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – A 25-year-old man from Margate kept Coral Springs police and SWAT hostage negotiators at bay for 8 hours after he barricaded himself in his mother’s home on Friday.
It all started around 8 a.m. when, according to police, Brandon Hayes arrived at his mother’s home in the Waterside community, then got into an argument with her.
At one point, he allegedly took out a gun and placed it on the kitchen counter. The mother, fearing for her safety, left the home and called police.
When they arrived, police said the man walked outside and fired shots in the air.
“Approximately five shots were fired in the house and then he came out to the exterior of the home and fired two shots into the air,” Coral Springs Police Officer Chris Swinson said. “We are dealing with unknown circumstances with an agitated male,” Swinson said during the long course of events.
Police moved in, fanned out and then fire rescue set up shop. Police and hostage negotiators said it was all about de-escalating the situation while keeping people safe.
Some residents were evacuated, while others were advised to stay in their homes. Park Springs Elementary was put on lockdown.
Swinson said during the active scene: “He’s made a couple threats towards officers basically saying if he saw any officers or anyone intervening, he would shoot and kill.”
Around 4 p.m., the standoff ended. Police credited the work done by hostage negotiators. Hayes was taken into custody. He is expected to face a number of charges, but is currently be kept on suicide watch, police said.