In a tense hotel standoff in Lubbock, Texas, law enforcement deployed a bomb squad robot to safely apprehend a gunman, bringing a potentially dangerous situation to an end. The suspect, 39-year-old Felix Delarosa, had violated his parole and was wanted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The Texas Anti-Gang unit tracked Delarosa to a Days Inn hotel on Wednesday, where he had barricaded himself inside a room. When officers attempted to apprehend him, Delarosa fired shots through the door. The Lubbock County Sheriff’s SWAT team was called in to assist after the suspect refused to surrender peacefully.
Despite efforts by negotiators to get him to give up, Delarosa continued firing at law enforcement. After a sheriff’s sniper reportedly struck him, the situation remained volatile, prompting officers to deploy the bomb squad robot to approach the room.
The robot was sent to the shattered window, where Delarosa fired another shot at the machine. In response, the robot released tear gas into the room, incapacitating Delarosa and forcing him to crawl out in a disoriented state. As the suspect lay on the ground, the robot rolled over him, pinning him down.
In a comical twist, the robot’s wheels managed to pull down Delarosa’s pants, allowing the SWAT team to quickly move in and take him into custody. Delarosa was then transported to a hospital for treatment of his injuries before being booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center.
Delarosa, who was previously sentenced to 20 years for drug-related charges, now faces new charges of aggravated assault against a public servant. Law enforcement praised the use of the bomb squad robot, noting it allowed them to end the standoff safely without putting officers at risk.
