Armed Man Accused Of Barricading Self In Hotel Room, Threatening To Shoot Pasco Deputies

HUDSON, FL — A 52-year-old man has been arrested after Pasco sheriff's deputies said he barricaded himself in a Holiday hotel room and threatened to shoot deputies.

On Thursday, Pasco sheriff’s deputies responded to a call regarding an unconscious man inside a hotel room at the Fairfield Inn at 3060 U.S. 19 in Holiday.

As deputies and hotel staff approached the man to provide aid, he regained consciousness, removed a handgun from a hip holster and pointed it at a deputy.

The deputies left the room and the man refused to come out for about three hours. He eventually surrendered.

After further investigation, deputies discovered the man, Richard Frank Bruns Jr. of Hudson, was a suspect in an attempted murder on Wednesday night in Hudson.

According to the sheriff's office, Bruns fired several shots from his handgun inside the home of an acquaintance and threatened to shoot the victim in the head.

He fled before deputies arrived on the scene.

Following his arrest, Bruns admitted to the attempted murder the night before. He was charged with attempted murder as well aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer from the incident at the hotel.

No one was injured during either incident. Bruns’ arrest affidavits can be found here, and his booking photo is available upon request.