Sandusky man headed to prison for shooting brother, holding 5 hostage

SANDUSKY — A Sandusky man who held five people hostage then shot his brother when he tried to intervene is headed to prison.Alexander Harrigan, 30, 800 block Wayne St., was sentenced to seven years on Wednesday by Erie County Common Pleas Judge Tygh Tone.On July 2, Harrigan held his girlfriend, brother, and three other people against their will inside a Perry Street home for roughly three hours.During that time, Harrigan — who was high on drugs and intoxicated — repeatedly assaulted those inside the residence. He pistol-whipped a man, put his gun in a woman's mouth, held his gun to multiple hostages' heads and threatened to kill them all. He also forced one woman to assault the others under threat of death."He completely terrorized his victims," said Detective Gary Wichman, who investigated the case.After three hours, Harrigan's brother, Zachary Rowe, intervened and tried to wrestle the gun away from Harrigan.In the process, a bullet was fired — it struck Harrigan's hand, then hit Rowe in the chest. At first, the pair claimed an intruder was responsible, but police soon learned Harrigan was to blame.After a two-day manhunt, officers located and arrested Harrigan. He was then indicted by a grand jury on nine felony charges, court documents stated.On Wednesday, Harrigan accepted a plea deal. In exchange for pleading guilty to three counts of felonious assault, one count of abduction, and a gun offense, prosecutors agreed to drop the other charges against him.Assistant Erie County prosecutor Jeanne Lippert later asked Judge Tone to level a prison term appropriate for the "serious offense" Harrigan committed."He's going to tell you about his drug problem — but you don't help your drug problem by holding five victims (against their will) and shooting your brother. I don't see that as an excuse. He needs to go to an institution," she stated.Lippert also said the state would "adamantly oppose" early release if Harrigan applies for it in the future.Before Tone handed down the seven-year sentence, Harrigan addressed the court:"I'm a man and need to control my own actions — I've let drug addiction rule my life," he said. "In prison, hopefully I can get involved in (addiction) classes so I can come home and be a positive member of society."He went on: "I'm not a bad person, I've just made some mistakes. And I apologize to all involved."Harrigan was remanded into the custody of Erie County deputies. He'll be held in the Erie County jail until he's transferred to a state prison in the coming days.Alexander Harrigan plead guilty in Judge Tygh Tone's Erie County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.Alexander Harrigan plead guilty in Judge Tygh Tone's Erie County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.Alexander Harrigan plead guilty in Judge Tygh Tone's Erie County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.Alexander Harrigan plead guilty in Judge Tygh Tone's Erie County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.Alexander Harrigan plead guilty in Judge Tygh Tone's Erie County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.Alexander Harrigan plead guilty in Judge Tygh Tone's Erie County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.Alexander Harrigan plead guilty in Judge Tygh Tone's Erie County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.Alexander Harrigan plead guilty in Judge Tygh Tone's Erie County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.Police investigate the scene of the shooting on Perry Street around midnight on July 2. Photo/Courtney Astolfi