The house was surrounded, and luckily, the blinds on the French doors were closed. The team had split up—two officers at the front of the house, and Dan, another SWAT member, and Chris, the drone officer, in the back. Dan silently crept up onto the patio and, after engaging the radio, called out to Lutz while watching the drone’s monitor.
“We’ve got a problem, Commander. The perp is running around inside the house, so it’s likely he heard the drone above the rooftop. We have to create a distraction and fast. It’s obvious that he knows we’re here. We have no choice but to go in with flash bang grenades to disorient him and then the tear gas to disable him. Unfortunately, your detective and his lady friend will suffer the consequences, too, but we have no choice.”
“Do what you need to do to keep Jesse and Hanna safe. Go for it, Dan.”
The radio communication ended.
Looking at the monitor again, Dan saw Josh drag Hanna toward Jesse, likely with the intentions of making a run for it with his hostages in tow. The garage door was just beyond Jesse.
Engaging the radio again, Dan called out to the officers at the front door. “Get your masks on, and on my go, toss the grenade through the front window and immediately follow it with the tear gas. The perp can’t have a gun in hand while he’s dragging the woman. Get ready—okay, now!”
Glass shattered as the SWAT officer launched the flash bang grenade through the window. The explosion was ear piercing and gave Dan the opportunity to breach the French doors and make entry. Tear gas quickly filled the living room. Dan spotted the stunned and coughing assailant as he made a run for the bedroom area. Dan tossed a flash grenade right at Josh. The sound rattled the entire house and reverberated off the walls of the hallway. Josh was able to reach the master bedroom, where he slammed the door and locked it behind him.
Dan yelled to his officer at the back of the house. “Tear gas that son of a bitch! He’s in the master bedroom.”
The officer shot the tear gas canister through the window then radioed that he would stay put in case Josh tried to escape through the backyard.
“Be careful. He may have weapons.” Dan called out to Josh to give himself up but didn’t get a response. He radioed to the men at the front of the house. “Petty and Stiles, go help out back and make sure Josh doesn’t try to exit the bathroom window. Watch yourselves. He could be armed.” Dan then radioed Lutz as he waited for some communication from the bedroom. “Commander, I need you to get an ambulance to the house. Josh is holed up in the master bedroom for now, but I want the victims removed immediately for their safety. For all we know, the perp is well-armed, and it could get ugly. You and your team will have to physically get Jesse and Hanna outside and on the other side of the garage before the ambulance will pick them up.”
The sound of gunshots took over. Dan hit the floor as bullets penetrated the walls and rained down on the hallway. He yelled to his officers. “I’m taking on gunfire! Immobilize him now.”
Return gunfire sprayed into the master bedroom along with more tear gas. Seconds later, the gunshots stopped, and the room went silent. Dan kicked in the door and found Josh lying on the floor, wounded in the shoulder but still breathing. He flipped Josh over, cuffed his hands behind his back, and called out to the officers that the room was clear.