Otoe County Deputies work with State Patrol Swat Team to secure down town Syracuse

Patricia Rengifo-Lant
News|Press

A nearly 5 hour stand-off between a Syracuse man and the Nebraska State Patrol Swat team ended without gun-fire at the Syracuse Town & Country Pharmacy. Bruce Leaze, 28, of Syracuse was found face-down by Swat Team members, unresponsive yet conscience at 8:30 p.m.

At 3:30 p.m. Leazer, 28, entered the pharmacy with a 9 mm semi-automatic gun demanding a variety of medications. A total of four others were in the pharmacy at the time of the initial confrontation.

Gene Sisco was one of the customers in the store at the time the stand-off began.

"He pointed the gun right at me and said you leave now," Sisco said.

Sisco said Leazer then demanded drugs from the pharmacist, after she obliged, he ordered her to leave as well. He was seen by the witnesses taking the drugs as they left the building.

Sisco left the building immediately and called 9-1-1. The Otoe County Sheriff's Office was first on the scene and called for the State Patrol and Swat Team for assistance.

The law enforcement evacuated all buildings in downtown Syracuse and began trying to make contact with Leazer.

Kevin Knorr, Lt. with the State Patrol said at some point Leazer contacted the Otoe County 9-1-1, demonstrating disjointed and slurred speech.

"He discontinued the call, however he left the phone line open and we were able to hear movement," Knorr said.

After repeatedly trying to make additional contact with Leazer both over the telephone as well as over the loud speaker, the Swat Team sent in a bomb robot to see what the situation was inside the building.

It was through use of the robot the law enforcement was able to determine that Leazer was on the ground and they entered the pharmacy. An emergency rescue team assisted getting Leazer onto an gurney and he was transported to the Community Memorial Hospital in Syracuse.