Police said the 14-hour response ended after officers deployed gas inside the residence.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A Milwaukee standoff that began with reports of threats against two parents escalated when a police drone was shot down from inside the house, prosecutors said in charging documents against Vance Lee.
The tactical response lasted from the morning of March 28 until about 10:19 p.m., when Lee surrendered after officers deployed gas inside the home. Police said negotiators, SWAT officers and armored vehicles were used during the standoff near 68th Street and West Brentwood Avenue. The case has since moved to Milwaukee County court, where Lee faces 16 charges tied to the threats, weapons and barricade.
Officers were called to the residence about 8:44 a.m. after Lee’s parents reported that he had threatened them. Investigators said Lee would not leave the house or follow commands. As officers worked outside, Lee remained barricaded inside. Prosecutors said a drone entered the home during the response, but Lee fired a shotgun from the second floor, hit the drone and disabled it. The drone allegation led to a criminal damage to property count with use of a dangerous weapon.
The police response followed what investigators described as a frightening night and morning for Lee’s parents. The complaint says Lee had gone downstairs with a handgun in his waistband and a rifle, then threatened to shoot and kill them. At one point, police said, Lee called his brother and said, “We are all dying today.” His parents told officers they stayed in their bedroom because they feared for their safety and believed Lee would shoot them if they came out.
Investigators said Lee made other threats about what he would do if police arrived. His parents told officers he said he “would kill everyone and hide in the basement ready for anything.” They also said he called two friends to the residence during the incident. The family dispute was described in a search warrant as starting after relatives accused Lee of stealing pots and pans from the kitchen, but authorities have not said what changed the argument into an armed standoff.
After Lee surrendered, officers searched the residence and reported finding a large cache of weapons and equipment. The items included one shotgun, four rifles, five handguns, about 27 magazines, roughly 800 rounds of ammunition, body armor and five suppressors or suppressor parts. Police said Lee admitted he had been drinking and had smoked meth for two days. Investigators also said he admitted barricading the house and firing a shotgun inside.
The firearm evidence forms much of the case. Lee is charged with 10 counts of firearm possession by an out-of-state felon, based on a prior felony burglary conviction in California. He also faces counts of failure to comply with an officer, disorderly conduct, endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, possession of firearm silencers and criminal damage to property. Prosecutors said a conviction on all counts could bring more than 140 years in prison and fines topping $350,000.
Lee was booked into jail and held on $50,000 bond. A judge ordered him not to possess firearms, dangerous weapons or body armor and placed him under drug testing conditions. His next listed court date was April 7 for a preliminary hearing.
Author note: Last updated Monday, April 27, 2026.