Image source: KGW
This week, Portland witnessed a hostage situation at an auto repair shop when Robert Connelly walked in from a shooting.
What happened
The Portland Police Bureau said officers shot the 49-year-old, who was seen in security video with a gun, while fleeing police.
The video confirmed that Connelly threatened the police with a gun and they shot him. Her shots missed him.
Robert Connelly ran into an auto repair shop owned by Alonso Rodriguez, who managed to escape. Miguel Sanchez, however, was unable to do the same.
Sanchez was in the garage waiting for his Mini Cooper to finish. His earplugs were inside him, so he couldn’t hear the shots.
Once he understood the situation, Sanchez went to the kitchen in the shop.
Read also: Portland and DOJ Clash Regarding Police use of Force
In the garage
With Connelly inside, Sanchez hid in a small spot under a counter in the corner. He considered his options and said he was thinking of taking matters into his own hands.
“I have to kill this guy, because if I don’t, he’s gonna kill me,” said Miguel Sanchez.
As he pondered what to do, Sanchez said Connelly tried to escape by making holes in the walls.
The two eventually met.
“I don’t care what you did today, I’m not concerned about what you’ve done in your life, but He’s willing to forgive you and you walk out alive from here,” revealed Sanchez.
“But if you don’t, you walk out there and shoot you, you go straight to hell and you will pay for eternity.”
Conversations
Over the next few hours, police crisis negotiators and the PBB tactical team responded to the situation and Sanchez and Connelly were conversing.
Connelly was smoking unidentified drugs from a pipe, saying he was ready to die, and Sanchez told him about his faith and forgiveness.
“I don’t care what you did today, I’m not concerned about what you’ve done in your life, but He’s willing to forgive you and you walk out alive from here,” revealed Sanchez.
“But if you don’t, you walk out there and shoot you, you go straight to hell and you will pay for eternity.”
The surrender
Miguel Sanchez’s words reached Connelly, encouraging him to surrender peacefully.
“He said, “OK, I’m ready.” I said, “God bless you bro, you’re gonna be okay.” So he opened the door and showed them his hands and then he followed their instructions,” said Sanchez.
“And then I sat on the chair and just started bawling and praying — it went from wanting to kill this man to so much compassion. I can see pain in his eyes.”
The situation ended as Miguel Sanchez wished, both for him and for his captor.
“I wanted to make sure that I’d go home to see my grandkids and my kids and my family, that was my whole intention.”
Read also: Portland News: Third Police Shooting This Week, Another Man Dead
Aftermath
According to the PBB, no one was injured in the incident.
Robert Connelly was arrested on multiple warrants related to gun crimes and sexual abuse charges.
He was also incarcerated at the Multnomah County Detention Center for first degree burglary, triple threats with a firearm, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon, second degree escape and felony possession of a firearm.
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