Posted on 03/22/2004 6:32:21 AM PST by Theodore R.
Hostage-taker killed during standoff BY KERRY DRENNAN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
A Lubbock Police officer fired the fatal shot that ended a 17-hour standoff with an ex-con who, at one point, held a Friona family hostage after stealing several cars and firing at multiple law enforcement officers.
Officer Scott Weems was placed on paid administrative leave Sunday, as is Lubbock Police Department policy pending the outcome of the investigations into the shooting death of Robby Lynn Vaughn, 37, of Muleshoe, Chief Claude Jones said.
"We'll be looking at it policy-wise, but everything looks good," Jones said.
The Texas Rangers are conducting an independent investigation into the shooting, Jones said.
"From the initial investigation, the use of deadly force against the suspect was justified per the Texas Penal Code requirements," Ranger Dusty McCord said.
According to multiple investigators at the scene, the Friona home at 1207 W. Ninth Place where Vaughn made his stand took several tear gas rounds before the shooting. Vaughn repeatedly appeared in a window of the Stovall home to level his weapon at police.
He fired "a very clear shotgun blast out of a window and toward an officer," an investigator said, which incited return fire from police.
Weems, who has been with the department for more than 14 years, including four years with the SWAT team, fired a single shot from his .308 sniper rifle just after 2 p.m. Sunday, Jones said.
Vaughn was pronounced dead at the scene by a justice of the peace, Friona Police Chief Royce Goodson said.
"Unfortunately, the suspect made the decision to end it the way that it ended," Goodson said. "He could have ended it at any time peacefully."
Vaughn's death ended a tense vigil by state troopers, Texas Rangers, Cannon Air Force Base explosives experts, local departments and SWAT teams from Amarillo, Lubbock and the Department of Public Safety in Austin.
Friona police called early Sunday to ask the Lubbock SWAT team to relieve the Amarillo SWAT team, which had been working since the night before to try to end the volatile situation, Goodson said.
Vaughn's recent problem with the law began about 4 p.m. Saturday when he fired at a DPS trooper who tried to stop him on Interstate 27 for lack of proper registration, a DPS spokesman said.
A preliminary chase ensued, ending when Trooper Eustacio Galvan wrecked his patrol unit in Swisher County. From there, an extensive manhunt was launched by state and local authorities, who tracked Vaughn to Friona.
Vaughn broke into multiple homes in Friona and stole at least three cars in his attempts to elude capture, investigators said.
During the chase, Vaughn fired on Friona officers, Goodson said.
Vaughn eventually broke into the Stovall home about 9 p.m. He held the Baptist minister, his wife and teenage daughter hostage as authorities surrounded the home, Goodson said.
Late Saturday night he released the daughter, then later the mother. Early Sunday morning, Vaughn released the minister, Goodson said.
"They're doing very well," Goodson said of the Stovalls. "They've got a lot of people looking out for them. Naturally, they're very upset about this whole ordeal."
No officers, bystanders or hostages were injured in the exchange of gunfire, Goodson said.
"That was the good thing," he said.
The neighborhood of well-kept, brick, single-story houses was evacuated just before 6 a.m. Sunday, neighbors said.
"Law enforcement I think did a good job," said Terry Butman, who lives four houses down from the Stovall residence. "They came and woke us up about 6 this morning and asked us to leave."
Butman said he knew Vaughn in passing from Vaughn's work at a co-op gin in Muleshoe.
"It's extremely unusual for something like this to happen here," Butman said. "It just shows you it can happen anywhere."
Valoris Osborn, another neighbor, said she asked investigators if she had time to don her church clothes before evacuating that morning so she'd be dressed to teach her Sunday school class.
"This has been quite a day. I'm grateful that none of our police or other law enforcement were hurt," she said. "I'm very impressed with the way the situation was handled as far as officers being protective, concerned and very professional."
By the time Osborn was allowed back into her home about 4 p.m. Sunday, the Stovall residence was being searched for explosives by the Cannon Air Force Base Explosive Ordinance Detail. Some obvious booby traps were found inside, an investigator said.
Sunday's incident echoes Vaughn's Jan. 31, 1989, run-in with Lubbock Police when he was shot by an undercover officer after threatening an officer with a gun.
The A-J reported then that Vaughn was sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated assault for that crime.
kerry.drennan@lubbockonline.com 766-8707
Looks like this cop gave good old Robby Lynn his receipt for his share in a lead mine.
Good Guys 1
Bad Guys...DEAD
?
In Texas, they increased the size of a police department by cloning one cop? Which cop?
Perhaps the author meant "several law enforcement officers?"
Stay Safe !
Stay safe !
"Rule 308!"
Thank goodness for Rule 308... coulda been much worse.
I had intended to get off SWAT last June. My wife and I finally bought the pizza shop in December. I quit being a firearms instructor but I stayed on SWAT. I figure I'll have to stay on another year because we have a bunch of new guys, 1/4 of the team has less than 2 years on and 1/2 have less than a year. They all went to a school yesterday. The team got revamped after a bunch of changes 'at the top.'
Been fun working two full time jobs and then the occasional SWAT call out. Our other sniper picked up sergeant so we just filled his position, the new guy was an 0311 in the Marine Corps and a Gulf War I veteran. He can shoot.
No tie up parties for the new guys LOL... I don't know what was going on with that. Too weird for me. About all we've ever done is drink beer together.
We just got some full auto M-16's and some M-14's care of the US Government. Some of the 16's won't hold a zero, I suspect that the barrels are worn out. It's like shooting a shotgun at 100 yards, one round will be right where you want it and the next won't even hit paper.
Stay safe Crunch and let us know where that pizza place is. I go up to Wright Pat a bunch and may swing down for a slice er two.
Tell yer armorer those 16 barrels may just be loose. They won't appear loose but are not properly tightened down thus the flyers after one or two round. GI's liked to put their sling thru the front sight and as they picked up the weapon every time the tug on the sling acted with torque and putting wear on the barrel/upper reciever mating surface.
A local should have a go-no-go gauge and a barrel wrench ..... if not brownells, for less than a hunnerd duckets, will have the proper tewls to make em kewl again.
Again.....Stay Safe !
On second thought, momma probably wouldn't be too thrilled with that idea. And when momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
Thanks for the tip on the M-16's, we've got a lieutenant on the dept. that puts together his own rifles. I don't think he's looked at these but I know he's got the tools we need to tighten up the barrels.
Still haven't ordered my book from you, I hope it's going well for you.
And the pizza place is named "Selenti's" and it's here in the People's Republic of Lorain, Ohio. If you guys are ever in town I got free pizza for you.
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