Bradley Paumen Shot in Home Invasion While Protecting Family

A frightening home invasion in Frank’s Eddy Village sent shockwaves through the community on Wednesday evening. Well known tour operator Bradley Paumen is tonight recovering in the hospital after he was shot multiple times while trying to protect his family. Paumen, the owner of Dark Night Cave Tubing Adventure Park, had just arrived home at around five thirty with his two children. But moments later, when he stepped back outside and returned, he found his door locked, his wife and kids trapped inside with three masked intruders. What followed was a desperate struggle to keep his family safe, a confrontation that left Paumen seriously injured. News Five’s Britney Gordon takes us inside the ordeal.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Tonight, well‑known businessman Bradley Paumen is counting his blessings after a terrifying encounter at his home in Frank’s Eddy left him with gunshot wounds. What began as an ordinary evening, picking up his kids from school, settling in, and getting ready to make dinner, quickly spiraled into a moment no family ever wants to face. Paumen says that after stepping outside for just a moment, he returned to find something no parent wants to discover, his front door suddenly locked… and an overwhelming feeling that something was very wrong. Moments later, that instinct proved true.

 

On the Phone: Bradley Palmer, Shooting Victim

“When I got back ten minutes later my hamburgers and, hamburger meat and the buns were on the steps, which I was surprised my nine-year-old son, Johnny would set them there and not take them in the house. But then the door was locked and so I pounded on the door that you guys accidentally locked the door, but they, these three people, these burglars or whatever they had already when I dropped, the kids were hiding in the bushes. I ran up and grabbed the kids and took them into the house, and then they held a gun to my nine-year-old son’s head and told my wife Selene to have to go get out the safe and the money for him and all the rings and jewelry and stuff where they kill him.”

 

Paumen says the robbers flung the door open and attacked him, leaving him with cracked ribs and bruises. They stole cash, jewelry, and the family’s sense of safety. One gunman shot Paumen in the chest, the bullet exiting through his back, as his young children watched. He feared he wouldn’t survive, especially after catching a glimpse of one attacker’s face.

 

On the Phone: Bradley Palmer

“It was apparent they were gonna kill me, I felt, anyway, so I tried to throw the guy with a gun off the railing. He shot me in the chest, came up and came up by my scapula area or so anyway, the other guys pulled me to the ground. They wanted a combination for the safe where they were gonna kill me, and I told him that the safe wasn’t working. We had to find the key, which was true. And, the other, one of the other guys went down. They knew I had payroll in my pickup, so they went down, got the payroll, and the guy that had the gun right during the struggle, I pulled his mask off so I could see what he looked like so I could see him, he was right in front of me then and he said, no, I gotta kill you because you saw me.”

 

Paumen says a jammed gun saved his life, as the attackers tried several times to shoot him in the head. He believes the assault was driven by money, not a targeted attempt to kill him. This isn’t Paumen’s first brush with danger, his name made headlines in 2016 when he was charged with abetment to murder amid a long‑running land dispute with businessman Michael Modiri. For now, Paumen says he’s leaving the investigation in police hands.

 

On the Phone: Bradley Palmer

“I have no idea there. I think it’s, to me it was a money deal. It was they wanted they took the money outta my front pocket. I always carry, took my bill phone and stuff. So there was, they were after as much money and they wanted my wife’s jewelry and jewelry that was left from my mom that I gave to my wife and stuff that would be passed down. So they wanted everything they, even the kids where we put the dollar coins and the twenty-five cents pieces and they took that.”

 

Paumen’s residence is located a short distance from his business, Dark Night Cave Tubing Adventures. Dark Night site manager Benjamin Mas was still at work when the attack unfolded, and he drove Paumen to the Western Regional Hospital. He says tours continued today as usual, but the company has now doubled security on the property.

 

Benjamin Mas, Site Manager, Dark Night

“We have double up on security both in the front and at the back. We have a security 24/7 and we are in contact with the police and they’re doing, say, we’re our patrols here more often.”

 

Reporter

“And how is this affecting the tours that you guys currently have going on?”

 

Benjamin Mas

“It is not affecting the tours. As I said, this is an isolated situation. It could happen anywhere. On the road anywhere. So it doesn’t affect the torch. It never didn’t happen on the tour side. Didn’t happen anywhere close to tours.”

 

Paumen believes the gunmen entered his property through the river and wants them caught quickly to prevent another attack. He says the ordeal has left his family traumatized and hopes no other family has to face something so terrifying. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Police Capture on Suspect in Bradley Paumen Home Invasion

 

Police have made a breakthrough in the frightening home invasion that rocked Frank’s Eddy Village, capturing one of the men believed to be behind the armed attack on well‑known tour operator Bradley Paumen. Tonight, investigators say they’re closing in on the rest of the crew. Police offered new details on the assault and the ongoing push to track down every suspect involved, signaling that the hunt, and the fight for justice, is far from over.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“The investigation commenced at approximately five forty p.m.. On eleventh March, 2026, when police were advised that a male person, namely Bradley Paumen, a sixty-eight-year-old police and businessman of Franks Eddy village. Was at the Western Regional Hospital being treated for gunshot injuries. What we have learned so far in the course of the ongoing investigation is that Paul was at his residence in Franks Eddy Village, along with other members of his family, when three mass male person are reported to have entered that residence. One of the male person was armed with a firearm and they made the demands of the family that they handed over items that were in their possession. A struggle ensued between Mr. Paulman and the armed male person, and during the course of that, Mr. Paulman is reported to have received those gunshot wounds, the male persons. Escape with items of property belonging to the occupants of the house and police have since detained one person in course of the  ongoing investigation and are seeking to others.”

 

Reporter

“Have you guys been able to ascertain if the. Perpetrator was someone that worked for him because we went there today and it’s pretty far. So it’s someone that would have to know where the place is.”

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“The details of the investigation that has been disclosed is the extent to which the department wishes to dispose. As stated, it’s an ongoing investigation and there are two other persons that police are seeking.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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