SHALER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man involved last month in a six-hour standoff with police at his parents’ Shaler Township home was formally charged Friday in connection with the incident.
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The criminal complaint, obtained by Channel 11 News, that was filed against Brad Nichols reveals new details about the standoff, which only ended when the house caught fire.
Police said Nichols, 32, was heavily armed and prepared to take many lives.
According to the complaint, the standoff started when Nichols' mother called 911, telling a dispatcher that her son was suicidal and had access to lots of guns. She also stated that Nichols said he was going to use the weapons on police.
“He’s going to kill himself, police and anyone else who comes into the house, including all police officers,” Nichols' mother told the 911 dispatcher, according to the complaint.
She added that her son was “loading magazines with bullets for AR15 assault rifles,” the complaint stated.
Channel 11 News captured the massive show of police force that responded to the home on Meier Lane. Officers evacuated the neighborhood and ordered two Shaler schools to go on lockdown.
Nichols was eventually taken into custody after flames appeared inside his parents’ home.
Close friends told Channel 11 News that Nichols was upset over his engagement, which he broke off the day before the standoff.
Nichols is charged with one count of making terroristic threats, but he has not been charged with weapon violations despite the number of guns and ammo that was seen being removed from his parents’ home.
Authorities said the fire marshal will decide whether an arson charge will be added.
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