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1 year ago
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A father in Florida has died after he held his two children hostage during an 18-hour standoff where shots were exchanged with a SWAT team and their house caught fire.
Sonny Ray Holland Senior, 43, barricaded himself in his Venus home with the children, aged three and four, overnight and only let them go on Tuesday afternoon.
Police responded to a domestic violence call on Oliver Road at 9.40pm on Monday and the victim had escaped. Holland refused to come out and crisis negotiators failed to persuade him to surrender or release the couple's children.
Polk County's SWAT Team eventually took control of the situation after more than 12 hours and the children were let go unharmed at 4.25pm on Tuesday.
Gas canisters were thrown inside to force Holland to leave but a gunshot was heard and the house caught on fire. He came out and shot at the SWAT Team before he went back inside and died because he could not be rescued from the blaze.
Sonny Ray Holland Senior, 43, has died after he held his two children hostage during an 18-hour standoff where shots were exchanged with a SWAT team and their house caught fire
The father from Florida barricaded himself in his Venus home with the children, aged three and four, overnight and only let them go on Tuesday afternoon
Police responded to a domestic violence call on Oliver Road at 9.40pm on Monday and the victim had escaped. Holland refused to surrender and crisis negotiators failed to persuade him to come out or release the couple's children
Sheriff deputies initially tried to establish a perimeter and tried to convince him to come outside over concerns of what he would do to the children if they entered forcefully.
Detectives had obtained a search and arrest warrant for the property and Holland who is a three-time convicted felon.
Crisis negotiations were joined by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office SWAT team to get the suspect to come outside or release the children but he repeatedly refused.
Polk County's SWAT Team took control after the standoff lasted more than 12 hours and the children were quickly released.
Liquid-based gas canisters were then thrown into the property to force Holland out.
But deputies heard a gunshot and the mobile home began smoking and started to burn.
Gas canisters were thrown inside to force Holland to leave but a gunshot was heard and the house caught on fire. He died because he could not be rescued from the blaze
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday that a person had barricaded themselves and was holding children hostage in Venus
Holland walked out and fired at the SWAT Team, who returned shots, before immediately going back inside, according to the sheriff's office.
The property was fully engulfed in flames at this point and first responders were not able to enter and Holland died. An autopsy will determine the exact cause of his death.
The children have been placed in protective custody and were taken to a local hospital to be examined.
Sheriff Paul Blackman said: 'I want to commend our deputies, SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiators for giving their all for 12 hours on this incident.
'I also want to thank Sheriff Grady Judd and the Polk County Sheriff's Office for allowing us to utilize their resources and give our deputies a much-needed break.
'Our prayers are with the children and the rest of the family whose lives were forever changed today.'
The incident is being investigated by the 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force.
DailyMail.com has contacted the Highlands County Sheriff's Office for comment.
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