Kaufman standoff ends, shooting suspect taken into custody
KAUFMAN, Texas - A Kaufman man faces several charges for reportedly shooting his son and shooting at police officers during a tense eight-hour standoff.
Police said 49-year-old Michael Etheredge and his 20-year-old son were drinking Sunday night when they started arguing.
It escalated and that’s when police say Etheredge shot his son in the hand and leg.
When officers arrived at the family’s home in the 13000 block of Main Street just before midnight, police said the father ran inside, grabbed a rifle and opened fire on the officers. They returned fire.
Etheredge was wounded in the shootout, but would not surrender. She barricaded himself inside the house and reportedly said he was not going to be taken alive.
Police credit the SWAT negotiators for his peaceful surrender just after 8 a.m.
“They were able to get him to calm down. He would be very agitated, angry and he would fire a round. But over the hours, the great job our negotiators did, they brought him down,” said Capt. Ed Black with the Kaufman Police Department.
The son was flown to Parkland hospital and was treated. He has already been released.
During the standoff, police said Etheredge fired dozens of rounds sporadically. At one point he shot a propane tank to cause an explosion, but was unsuccessful.
Police found a number of weapons, including an AR-15 rifle and a lot of ammunition inside the home. Fortunately, no officers were hurt.
Nearby Phillips Elementary School chose to delay classes until 10 a.m. because of the police activity.