Cops say the man was collecting gas canisters to create a fiery “kill zone” along the Florida road
A “talkative” 65-year-old robbery suspect told deputies he was setting up a “kill zone” when they interrupted him, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
The affidavit states that the plan called for the use of fire to trap people in their cars so they could be killed.
Officials said Gary Brannon was arrested on August 12 while searching for gas canisters on someone’s property north of Gainesville. Gainesville is located about 70 miles southwest of Jacksonville.
Officials said Brannon told deputies that his intended targets were people he suspected of abusing his 92-year-old aunt, including his caretaker.
Officials said his plan was halted when deputies were alerted to an “armed disturbance” involving a suspected robber standing outside a home and shooting in the air.
Officials said the man’s name was Brannon, and he was found with a stolen gun in his car.
“Brannon was so talkative that we interacted with him and kept talking to him the entire time. In fact, at no point did Gary stop talking, even when he wasn’t talking to him,” the deputies said in the affidavit.
Investigators learned that Brannon was convinced his aunt was being abused by neighbors and was supplying her medication by a caretaker, and his “kill zone” was aimed at revenge.
“Gary has defined a ‘kill zone’ as a trap he sets up by cutting down trees in the road, some in front of the target and some behind the target. This would immobilize vehicles so he could then set the vehicle and any people inside on fire to kill them.
“While talking to Gary, he stated that he did this to one of the four Subaru cars on the victim’s property.”
Officials said a search of Brannon’s car revealed matches and a saw.
Officials said the man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery of an inhabited dwelling and firing a firearm into a residential property.
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