Hostage situation in Suwanee

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Hostage situation in Suwanee

Police said a barricaded gunman was holding four Gwinnett County firefighters -- initially five -- hostage Wednesday, April 10, 2013.

This Thursday, April 11, 2013 photo shows a home damaged during a hostage standoff in Suwanee. Lauren Brown, 55, was killed after holding four Gwinnett County firefighters hostage for hours before they where freed when police officers stormed the house Wednesday.

This Thursday, April 11, 2013 photo shows a home damaged during a hostage standoff in Suwanee. Lauren Brown, 55, was killed after holding four Gwinnett County firefighters hostage for hours before they where freed when police officers stormed the house Wednesday.

Thursday, April 11, 2013 - Investigators gather canisters at the scene of a home damaged during a hostage standoff in Suwanee on Wednesday.

Thursday, April 11, 2013 - Investigators gather canisters at the scene of a home damaged during a hostage standoff in Suwanee on Wednesday.

Thursday, April, 2013 - An investigator is seen holding canisters at the scene of a home damaged during a hostage standoff in Suwanee on Wednesday.

Thursday, April 11, 2013 - Investigators walk towards the home in Suwanee where a man was killed on Wednesday during a hostage standoff involving four Gwinnett firefighters.

Thursday, April 11, 2013 - Crime scene tape borders the hostage standoff scene at a home in Suwanee where a man was killed on Wednesday.

Thursday, April 11, 2013 - A CSI vehicle is seen at a damaged home in Suwanee where a man was killed on Wednesday during a hostage standoff involving four Gwinnett firefighters.

“It’s an incident people in public safety train for but hope never comes,” Rutledge said. “Tonight it did.” (BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM)

The standoff ended, Gwinnett Police spokesman Ed Ritter said, when officers entered the home and "gunfire was exchanged." (BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM)

Reflecting after the standoff ended, Gwinnett Fire Capt. Thomas Rutledge said his department is thankful police got the hostage firefighters out unharmed. (BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM)

SWAT officers used “flash-bang” -- concussion grenades -- to catch the gunman off-guard as they entered the Suwanee home. They exchanged gunfire with the hostage-taker, who was shot and killed. (BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM)

The gunman died and one officer suffered "non-life-threatening" injuries, Ritter said, adding "We didn't want it this way." (BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM)

Shots were fired and an explosion heard about 7:30 p.m. Immediately after the commotion, officers were seen running to clear the road to make way for an exiting ambulance. (BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM)

A SWAT team was on the scene in the 2400 block of Walnut Grove Way in Suwanee. (BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM)

Gwinnett Fre Capt. Thomas Rutledge said the firefighters were given no reason to suspect they were walking into a dangerous situation, or else their protocol would have been to stage themselves outside and wait for police to enter the home first. (HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM)

The Walnut Grove at Richland is a newer subdivision full of two-story traditional houses, across the street from Collins Hill High School. Neighbors said it was a quiet and safe neighborhood. (BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM)

Residents were being prevented from entering the Walnut Grove at Ridgeland subdivision. (BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM)

Firefighters responded to a medical call at the home and, shortly after arrival around 3:10 p.m., were taken hostage, authorities said. (CHANNEL 2 ACTION NEWS)

Across the street, a baseball game at Collins Hill High School was delayed and students were lingering near the school's entrance to watch police activity. (CHANNEL 2 ACTION NEWS)

Gwinnett police Cpl. E.J. Ritter speaks to members of the press at the entrance of Walnut Grove at Richland subdivision, across the street from Collins Hill High School in Suwanee.

The man who called 911 faked a heart attack, Channel 2 Action News reported.

The unidentified man had five hostages, but released one firefighter to move their firetruck, authorities said.

Gwinnett police, near the scene where a barricaded gunman was holding Gwinnett firefighters hostage in a Suwanee neighborhood.

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This Thursday, April 11, 2013 photo shows a home damaged during a hostage standoff in Suwanee. Lauren Brown, 55, was killed after holding four Gwinnett County firefighters hostage for hours before they where freed when police officers stormed the house Wednesday.

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