An hours-long standoff involving Gwinnett County police SWAT units ended Tuesday afternoon when an armed man who barricaded himself inside a home near Buford died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.
The incident began late Monday night when Brookhaven police asked Gwinnett County police for assistance with a kidnapping investigation.
The suspect, identified as Evan Michael Sieli, 31, of Sugar Hill, by Brookhaven police, was seen with a rifle around 1:45 a.m. at a home in the Sycamore Summit neighborhood on Sycamore Road, Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle confirmed.
Around 4 a.m., Sieli stepped outside and fired multiple shots at the officers surrounding the home, hitting a SWAT robot and a nearby house, Winderweedle added. More than five hours later, at 9:45 a.m., officers entered the home and found the man dead.
Investigators remained at the scene through the afternoon.
Brookhaven police had responded to a 911 call around 8:30 p.m. for the kidnapping of a 10-year-old girl in the 3100 block of Buford Highway. Police determined the girl was abducted by a suspect who was driving a black, late-model BMW.
The department requested the help of local, state and federal law enforcement. Around 10:15 p.m., police learned the girl had returned home and she was taken to a hospital.
Investigators identified Sieli as the owner of the black BMW and arrest warrants were obtained for kidnapping and aggravated assault with the intent to rape, police said. About 30 minutes after the girl was found safe, Brookhaven police tried to serve the warrants at the Sycamore Road home. Gwinnett police activated their SWAT units after determining that Sieli had a rifle.
Others were inside the home when Brookhaven police responded, but they were evacuated, leaving the suspect alone. Officers did not have contact with him for several hours, police said.
Nearby residents were told to shelter in place, and SWAT officers evacuated the neighborhood and surrounding houses, Winderweedle said. No injuries to police or other residents were reported.
“It’s kind of mind-blowing,” resident Joe Hall said. “I’ve been here since 2009, it’s always been pretty quiet. The worst that happens is deer getting hit by cars. It’s shocking.”
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