Photo by Raymond Hielscher Law officers assemble across the street.

Photo by Raymond Hielscher A Nebraska State Patrol support tank moves into position.

Photo by Raymond Hielscher The state patrol support tank at Third and Cheyenne streets, a block from the standoff at Third and Box Butte (top of photo.)

ALLIANCE--A SWAT team went into a pharmacy in Alliance at 10:30 p.m. MDT and killed the man who had held them at bay during a 14-hour standoff.

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Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins said the armed man, Andres Gonzalez, was confimed dead around 11:30 p.m. That was about 10 minutes after an explosion was reported at the rear of downtown Thiele Pharmacy, according to the Omaha World Herald.

No police officers were injured in the final battle, Collins said.

KCOW radio reported that SWAT team members fired several rounds of ammunition into the bulding around 10:35 p.m. and four officers then entered building.

Gonzalez, 27, was also known as "Fat Andy" to friends and associates, according to a Bulletin source who asked to remain anonymous.

A shooting at an trailer court preceded the all-day armed standoff. As the Bulletin reported, Andy Gonzalez apparently killed his father.

Two police officers and a State Patrol SWAT officer were shot during the day by the gunman, who was inside pharmacy and gift store at the corner of Third and Box Butte Ave.

A hostage -- pharmacy owner Charles Lierk -- was wounded as he escaped around 4 p.m. MDT. He was taken to the Alliance hospital.

Lierk was held for nearly seven hours.

Gonzalez allegedly walked into the pharmacy around 8:50 a.m. and took Lierk hostage, Nebraska State Patrol Spokeswoman Deb Collins said.

As Alliance police arrived, Officer Kirk Felker, 43, was wounded in the arm during an exchange of gunfire. Felker, a 15-year veteran of the department, underwent surgery for non-life threatening injuries and remains at the Box Butte General Hospital, Collins said.

A state patrol SWAT team arrived around 10:30 a.m., and a SWAT member was wounded when gunfire was exchanged through the door of an adjacent building. Trooper Tim Flick, 37, a 15-year veteran, suffered gunshot wounds to the left side of his body, and is in serious but stable condition.

And, another Alliance police officer suffered a shrapnel wound at the same time. He is Matt Shannon, a five-year veteran of the Alliance Police. He was treated and released from the hospital, Collins said.

The troopers were able to establish phone contact with the suspect and negotiations began.

The Alliance downtown business district and other public places were blocked off and locked down. The town came to a virtual standstill, according to KCOW radio of Alliance.

The Bulletin recieved an unconfirmed report during the standoff that the suspect was involved in a homicide earlier at the Meadows trailer court. His father, Larry Gonzales, 62, was killed, Collins said Wednesday morning.

“This is a very complex and involved investigation,” said K. J. Hutchinson, Box Butte County Attorney. “We continue to work multiple crime scenes and release of information will be subject to the Grand Jury process.”

Nebraska law requires a Grand Jury be convened anytime someone dies while in the process of apprehension or in the custody of law enforcement.

“I would like to commend everyone involved for their dedication and professionalism during this very dangerous situation,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Flick, Officers Felker and Shannon, and Mr. Lierk, as well as all of the individuals touched by the tragic events."

The Nebraska State Patrol was assisted by law enforcement officers from the Alliance, Scottsbluff and Chadron Police Departments, Box Butte & Dawes County Sheriff’s Offices, Nebraska Game and Parks, Nebraska Brand Committee, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) negotiators. Assistance was also provided by the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department, Nebraska Department of Roads, and the City of Alliance.