(Muir Analytics’ Quick Brief is broadly based on the Pentagon EXSUM briefing method. The aim is to quickly explain an evolving hotel threat issue in about 15 lines in executive summary format. Muir has added a quick analysis of the issue that can help hotels mitigate certain risks).

Chain of events

1. On 18 September 2024, WKRC says Texas Anti-Gang police tried to arrest a fugitive wanted for parole violations after being in prison for drug trafficking.
2. Said fugitive was armed with a pistol and had barricaded himself in a hotel room at a Days Inn in Lubbock, TX, which resulted in a SWAT deployment, says WKRC.
3. The hotel in question is a 2-star property, the Days Inn by Wyndham Lubbock South, located at 6025 Avenue A, Lubbock, TX 79404, USA.
4. A police sniper reportedly shot and seemingly injured the alleged perpetrator after he fired multiple rounds, some at police, says the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. (This detail remains unconfirmed. No video of the standoff so far shows the perpetrator suffering from a gunshot wound. The hotel room window appears broken, and it could be that a sniper’s bullet hit the window, causing minor injuries to the suspect.)
5. Two hours of negotiations with the alleged perpetrator, which included him waving a hotel room Bible at SWAT, did not bring a peaceful resolution to the melee, so police sent a bomb disposal robot to help conclude the situation, says video posted by WKRC.
6. As the robot sprayed tear gas into the room, says WKRC video, the fugitive tried to defeat the robot by throwing a bedsheet on it and then shooting it, says the Daily Mail.
7. Undeterred, the robot successfully sprayed gas into the room, says WKRC.
8. The gas forced the subject out of the room via the window, where the robot promptly engaged the gas-debilitated suspect, literally running over him, according to a video posted on X.
9. Police then arrested the subject and charged him with charged with, among other things, “aggravated assault against a public servant,” says KCBD.

Takeaways

There are four takeaways, First, the hostile tactics applied by the alleged perpetrator failed. He unsuccessfully tried to delay his apprehension by the police or escape them and the police robot. Muir Analytics has scores of scenarios like this in its SecureHotel Threat Portal database – hotel barricade situations – and over 95% of the time, the violence doers are either captured or killed.

Second, fugitives on the run frequently hide in 1-star and 2-star hotels. They also hide in higher-ranking hotels, but lower-ranking properties are the norm.

Third, this phenomenon puts hotel guests’ and staffers’ lives in danger and usually results in light to moderate property damages ranging from several hundred to many thousands of dollars. However, there are such cases that have resulted in several hundred thousand to around $1 million in damages.

Fourth, using a police robot to subdue the suspect in this case reflects highly innovative thinking and exceptional expertise in hostile fugitive apprehension tactics on behalf of the Lubbock Police Department. Using robots in force application situations can reduce danger to police officers and panic, confuse, and debilitate perpetrators, ideally making them easier to capture, or, when unfortunately necessary, eliminate.

Robots are ideal for dealing with hostile situations in hotels, and their use in the US and internationally is increasing.

Muir Analytics runs the world’s largest, most sophisticated hotel violence database – the SecureHotel Threat Portal – with over 3,600 hotel attacks (and growing). We can provide the hospitality, insurance, and law enforcement/government sectors with intelligence that facilitates full-spectrum risk reduction, which helps hotels protect guests, staff, buildings, brands, and revenues. Contact us for a consultation: 1-833-DATA-444.

Sources and further reading:

“Robot cop ends standoff by running over and gassing suspect,” WKRC, 21 September 2024.

“Texas man gets in shootout with a robot, loses and is then arrested in wild video,” Daily Mail, 20 September 2024.

Tweet, @tatianyc27, 8:58 PM, 20 September 2024, https://x.com/tatianyc27/status/1837295231399494118.

“Barricaded person in custody following LSO response to Lubbock motel,” Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 18 September 2024.

“Wanted man barricaded in Lubbock motel room shot, gassed out and taken into custody,” KCBD News, 18 September 2024.

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