Vance Lee
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man is facing 16 criminal charges after prosecutors say he threatened his parents, barricaded himself inside a home with multiple firearms and held police in a roughly 14-hour standoff before surrendering.
What we know:
The accused is 33-year-old Vance Lee. He was charged with the following:
- 1 count of failure to comply with officer's attempt to take person into custody
- 10 counts of possession of a firearm by out-of-state felon
- 1 count of disorderly conduct, use of a dangerous weapon
- 1 count of endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon
- 1 count of criminal damage to property (less than $2,500), use of a dangerous weapon
- 2 counts of possession of a firearm silencer
Investigators say the charges stem from the threats, the barricaded standoff and the firearms recovered from the home.
The backstory:
According to the criminal complaint, Lee is accused of threatening his parents at their home near 68th and Brentwood on March 27 and 28. Investigators say Lee came downstairs with a handgun in his waistband and a rifle and threatened to shoot and kill them.
The complaint states Lee later called two friends to the home and told his parents if they left their bedroom he would shoot them. His parents told police they stayed in their bedroom out of fear for their safety.
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During interviews, the parents told officers Lee said he "would kill everyone and hide in the basement ready for anything if police arrived." Investigators noted both parents appeared fearful and nervous and told officers they loved their son but could not handle him continually threatening them.
According to a previously-reported-on search warrant, the dispute began after family members accused the suspect of "stealing some pots and pans from the kitchen.
Police say the suspect also called his brother and said, "We are all dying today," according to the warrant.
Milwaukee weekend standoff began as family dispute, search warrant says
Milwaukee police arrested a 33-year-old man after a weekend standoff that began as a family dispute, with officers later finding 10 guns inside the home.
Police were dispatched to the home around 8:44 a.m. on March 28. Investigators say Lee refused to exit, barricaded himself inside and ignored commands from officers.
Dig deeper:
SWAT officers, armored vehicles and crisis negotiators responded. Officers later deployed a drone into the home, but prosecutors say Lee fired a shotgun from the second floor, striking and disabling the drone.
Authorities later deployed gas into the residence, and Lee surrendered around 10:19 p.m. The standoff lasted approximately 14 hours.
After Lee’s arrest, officers executed a search warrant and recovered four rifles, five handguns, one shotgun, five suppressors or suppressor parts, about 27 magazines, approximately 800 rounds of ammunition and body armor.
Investigators also say Lee admitted he had been drinking, smoking meth for two days, barricaded the home and fired a shotgun inside during the standoff.
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Court records show Lee has a prior felony burglary conviction in California, making it illegal for him to possess firearms.
Lee's bond was set at $50,000 on Thursday, April 2. The court ordered that he is prohibited from possessing dangerous weapons, firearms or body armor, and will be monitored through drug testing.
What's next:
He's due back in court on Tuesday, April 7, for a preliminary hearing.
If convicted on all counts, Lee faces more than 140 years in prison and fines exceeding $350,000.
The Source: Information in this report is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office and Wisconsin Circuit Court.