Amanda McReynolds
The Daily News
JACKSONVILLE — Gaekwon Kirelle Bryant, 23, of the Triangle Motor Lodge is charged by the Jacksonville Police Department with seven counts of assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer, possession of a weapon of mass destruction, and discharging a firearm within city limits specifically related to the incident at 123 Queens Road on Thursday, during which he is accused of barricading himself inside the home.
Bryant was wanted in connection with a Tuesday shooting in the parking lot of Speedy Tobacco Store at 357 Henderson Drive during which two people were shot, JPD Deputy Chief Ashley Weaver is quoted as saying in a release from the police department on Thursday evening.
At 11 a.m. Thursday, JPD officers were attempting to take Bryant into custody when he allegedly refused to cooperate by barricading himself inside the home at 123 Queens Road, according to a press release from the department Friday morning.
“Police and family attempted to talk him out of the house with no response,” the department wrote.
While trying to get Bryant to come out, the police department stated they deployed gas into the home but were unable to get Bryant to come outside.
“Bryant shot at officers multiple times during the event from inside the home with a shotgun,” the police department wrote, adding that they did not know where Bryant was inside of the home and did not return fire. “Officers then began dismantling the home in an attempt to force Bryant out of the house.”
According to police, Bryant was allegedly found hiding under a bed and was removed from the home without incident. He was assessed for minor injuries before being taken to the Onslow County Jail.
Weaver is quoted as saying teamwork is the reason they “were successful in resolving this dangerous situation without the use of deadly force.”
On Thursday, Bryant was charged with discharge of a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear, discharge of a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon, injury to personal property, and assault on a child under the age of 12.
These charges were in relation to a shooting on Tuesday during which two people were shot, both of whom were transported to Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune for treatment, according to a release from police on Thursday. There was a juvenile with them who received minor injuries as well.
According to N.C. Courts, Bryant is scheduled to appear in Onslow County District Court on July 20 for unrelated charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.