In Anderson County, Texas, John Joe Gray has withstood what is called the longest-running standoff with police officers in America’s history. Gray and his six children have remained holed up in a 47-acre piece of land they own, in a one-sided siege that has taken place for over a decade. It all began when he was arrested for assaulting a state trooper in late 1999 during a traffic stop. A jury indicted him for assaulting a public servant and for taking an officer’s weapon. Gray maintained that the patrolmen were lying about the incident and retreated to his property with his family upon being released on bail.
He has remained there ever since and told the officials that they’d need to bring body bags if they ever came to the property to take him into custody. Gray walks around the property with a revolver, rifle, and knife, and his children follow suit. His children range from teenaged Jessica, who keeps a pistol by her side, to 39-year-old Johnathan, who is also armed at all times. Initially, law enforcement officers kept watch over the compound, waiting for a chance to arrest Gray, but they eventually withdrew. The current sheriff of the county has said that he has no intention of going onto the property, just like the three other officials who have held the position of Henderson County Sheriff since the standoff began years ago.