Gunman in hostage standoff at Amarillo hotel threatened to shoot officers, police say | KVII

Excerpt

The gunman in a hostage standoff at a La Quinta Inn in Amarillo threatened to shoot officers, according to Amarillo police.Tony Len Nichols, 51, is charged with

Tony Len Nichols is accused of threatening to shoot officers during a hostage standoff on October 20, 2022 at the La Quinta Inn at 2108 S. Coulter in Amarillo (Credit: Potter County Detention Center)

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — The gunman in a hostage standoff at a La Quinta Inn in Amarillo threatened to shoot officers, according to Amarillo police.

Tony Len Nichols, 51, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, unlawful restraint and deadly conduct.

Police responded to the hotel located at 2108 S. Coulter Street at 12:40 p.m. Thursday after someone called 911 to report a man was standing in the parking lot yelling and waving a gun.

Before officers arrived, Nichols went back into his room.

Police said Nichols refused to open the door, but communicated with officers through it.

Nichols made threats to shoot the officers on scene and any others that would show up," said the police department.

A woman called police claiming to be inside the room. She said Nichols was armed with a gun and she was not allowed to leave.

Nichols eventually released the hostage but refused to come out. Police said he continued to threaten officers.

The SWAT team fired "chemical irritant" into the room and Nichols started shooting.

Police continued using chemical irritant until Nichols surrendered.