VENUS, Fla. — A suspect is dead, and two children have been released in Venus, Florida, more than 24 hours after they were taken hostage by a man barricading himself.
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office said the children were released after 4 p.m. Tuesday.
HCSO said around 9:40 p.m. on Monday, deputies were called to a home on Oliver Road in Venus for a domestic violence call.
When deputies arrived, they said the victim managed to escape the home, but the suspect, Sonny Ray Holland Sr., 43, stayed inside the home with their two children.
According to HCSO, Holland refused to come out of the home when deputies approached. Deputies didn't want to endanger the children by making a forced entry with children, ages 3 and 4, in the home and the possibility of Holland being armed, so they set up a perimeter and tried to convince him to come outside.
The HCSO Crisis Negotiation Team, along with the HCSO SWAT Team, were called to assist in negotiations and establish contact with Holland.
After over 12 hours of negotiations, Holland still refused to come outside.
Around 4:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Holland released the children.
HCSO said that shortly after the children were released, deputies brought liquid-based gas containers into the mobile home to get Holland to exit.
Officials said the house began to burn, and Holland exited and began shooting at Polk County SWAT Team members, who returned fire. Holland then ran back into the burning house. At this point, officials said the home was fully engulfed in flames, making it impossible for first responders to enter.
Holland could not be saved from the home. HCSO said an autopsy will be done to determine the exact cause of death.
“I want to commend our deputies, SWAT Team, and Crisis Negotiators for giving their all for 12 hours on this incident," Sheriff Paul Blackman said. "Our prayers are with the children and the rest of the family whose lives were forever changed today."
HCSO said the children were taken to a local hospital as a precaution and have been placed in protective custody.
