Fort Bragg soldier fires on police, firefighters in standoff

According to police, Staff Sgt. Joshua P. Eisenhauer fired on police officers and firefighters who were trying to respond to a report of smoke at the Austin Creek Apartment Complex around 10 p.m. Friday. 

Officers fired back at Eisenhauer before retreating to take cover, starting a standoff that lasted four hours. It ended just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday when police used explosives to knock down the door and enter the third floor apartment. 

Negotiators attempted to contact Eisenhauer for four hours, but were unsuccessful. At about 2:10, police called in an explosive entry team to take down the door of the apartment with explosives. 

Following the blast, a robot entered the apartment first and found the suspect lying injured on the kitchen floor. He was rushed to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and later transported to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center. As of Saturday afternoon he was in critical but stable condition. 

Police spokesman Gavin MacRoberts said two officers suffered minor injuries. One officer was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, while the other was treated on site. 

The two officers who returned fire will be placed on administrative duty while the State Bureau of Investigation looks into the incident.

Police aren't sure what might have triggered the standoff. Eisenhauer was assigned to Fort Bragg's Warrior Transition Battalion. 

During the incident, police evacuated residents of the apartment complex, taking them to Fayetteville Fire Station 8. In all, the station sheltered 40 adults, nine children and three pets while police officers tried to negotiate with Eishenhauer, officials said. 

Three local Wal-Mart stores provided baby supplies for the families with children and local businesses provided food. 

Following the incident, the Austin Creek Apartments management company found vacant apartments in their properties around the area to house the families displaced by the stand-off. According to Fayetteville police, the American Red Cross assisted in providing emergency supplies, including beds that could be used until the families return home.