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Orlando police rescue kids, kill hostage-taker
December 12, 1997
Malcolm Phillips unharmed after rescue
Web posted at: 7:55 a.m. EST (1255 GMT)ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- Police stormed a house before dawn on Friday, killing a murder suspect who apparently had fallen asleep and rescuing the two young children he had been holding hostage for three days.
Tedi Priest, age 2, and her 4-year-old cousin Malcolm Phillips appeared frightened but unharmed as they were reunited with their mothers outside the house.
The youngsters were later taken to a hospital for evaluation. "The children were fine through all of it," Orlando Police Detective Barbara Bergin told CNN. She said an officer who took part in the raid suffered a hand wound that was "non-life threatening." (
77K/7 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
Tedi after being freed John Edward Armstrong, who had been holding the boy and girl since Tuesday morning, apparently was surprised by police while he slept at 5:06 a.m. There was a struggle and shots were fired, police said.
It was not immediately clear if Armstrong fired a weapon.
"The decision was made to enter the room after visual confirmation where all the parties were," Orlando Police Chief William Kennedy told reporters. (
'They treat us like dogs'
After police announced that Armstrong was dead, his sister, Doretha Owens, said: "They didn't have to do this. They didn't have to do this to my brother. They treat us like dogs."
Armstrong, 39, himself a father of three, was suspected of fatally shooting a man and wounding a woman in nearby Winter Park before leading police on a chase on Tuesday that ended near the children's home.
He stormed into their duplex and ordered their mothers out.
Armstrong was killed early Friday By Friday, police said they had grown increasingly frustrated that Armstrong hadn't surrendered and had repeatedly broken his promises to free the children. Negotiators had tried to wear him down with sleep deprivation and had allowed him to speak to his brother, James, by telephone.
Armstrong had previous convictions for robbery, burglary and attacking his wife.
Due for release from prison next year on a robbery conviction, he was instead freed in March, among about 400 inmates who got out when a U.S. Supreme Court ruling restored early-release time originally intended to relieve prison crowding.
Family members said Armstrong had been on a two-week crack and heroin binge before his latest run-in with the law.
Miami Bureau Chief John Zarrella contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- No relief in Orlando hostage standoff - December 11, 1997
- Police think man will release toddler hostages - December 10, 1997
- Shooting suspect holds children hostage - December 10, 1997
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