Wilson County man surrenders after overnight standoff

Authorities with the Wilson County Sheriff's Department fired tear gas into the home around 5:45 a.m. Thursday, prompting the man's surrender. No one was injured, authorities said. 

Officers went to the house, at 5207 Bloomery Road, near the intersection with Packhouse Road, to serve an involuntary commitment warrant on Eric Radke around 5 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

Radke came outside, fired a shot into the air and then went back inside.

He stayed there for more than 13 hours, causing concern among neighbors and his daughter, Kelly Radke, who said late Wednesday that she was concerned about what might happen if he didn't surrender peacefully. 

Kelly Radke told WRAL News Wednesday night that her father suffers from depression and drinks heavily. In numerous phone conversations with him during the standoff, Kelly Radke pleaded with her father to come out of the house. 

Earlier in the day Wednesday, Eric Radke had posted a warning on his Facebook page that he would harm anyone that came to the house, authorities said. According to that page, he is 44 years old and married. 

Two posts on his Facebook read: "i hate everybody and if u come 2 bmy houser im gonna shoot u [sic]" and "nobody is comin in my house no body [sic]."

Some neighbors were evacuated from the area during the standoff, Sgt. Wanda Samuel said, while many others were advised to stay inside their homes. Bloomery Road at Packhouse Road was closed while authorities were at the scene.

Samuel said late Wednesday that serving involuntary commitment warrants can often create unpredictable situations. 

"You really don't know, especially with IVC, you can't predict what's going to happen," she said. "They are considered to be, like, maybe having some type of mental issue, so therefore, once we respond, we take all precautions as necessary."