Hostage suspect served in the Marines for four years

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — We’re learning more about the man who police say held two people hostage for hours at a Wells Fargo branch in Cobb County Friday.

The man claimed to have a bomb but said he didn’t want to hurt anyone before he was killed by police.

He spoke to Channel 2 Action News for about 45 minutes during the incident. During our conversation, he identified himself to us as Brian Easley, a Marine veteran.

Channel 2's Aaron Diamant spent Friday working to corroborate his claims.

Through our military contacts, Diamant confirmed Easley served in the Marines from January 2002 through December 2005.

He was a Lance Corporal and a warehouse clerk who served in Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I was stationed at Camp Lejeune for four years. I only did four years in the Marine corps, and when I got out I moved to Georgia. I moved in with my parents. They were living in Jefferson, Georgia at the time. That’s where I met my ex-wife,” he told us by phone.

Easley told us he had no criminal record, which we are still working to confirm.

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He also claimed he collected disability and other benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which he said owed him money.

Two separate sources told Diamant that Easley showed up at the Atlanta VA Medical Center in DeKalb County on Monday and made a scene until police escorted him off the property.

Late Friday afternoon, Channel 2 Action News received a statement from a Department of Veterans Affairs spokesperson saying the following:

The VA is deeply saddened by the news in Cobb County earlier today. VA worked closely with law enforcement to try to resolve the situation peacefully, but unfortunately it ended in tragedy. Our sincere condolences go out to everyone affected.

This is now being investigated as an officer-involved shooting by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Cox Media Group