ATLANTA (AP) — A group of Georgia firefighters say they joked with a gunman in an attempt to lighten the mood during an hours-long hostage ordeal earlier this month.
The firefighters on Tuesday recounted the April 10 ordeal for the first time during a news conference in Gwinnett County.
Police say 55-year-old Lauren Brown faked chest pains to lure the firefighters to his home in Suwanee, about 35 miles northeast of Atlanta.
The firefighters said Tuesday that shortly after they arrived at his home, he explained "the real reason" for them being there. They said he told them he had been planning the hostage situation for four to six weeks, and that he targeted firefighters because he knew they would be unarmed.
After several hours, a S.W.A.T. team stormed the house and killed Brown.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.