DeLand, FL - DeLand Police say a Florida Hospital DeLand employee was Baker Acted after he barricaded himself inside his home, refused to come out for more than an hour, threatened to shoot police and himself, and suffered multiple self-inflicted gunshot wounds to his abdomen.
Police responded to the 52-year-old man's home in DeLand just after 7 PM Sunday night after receiving reports of a suicidal person. A Florida Hospital DeLand staff member reported that the man was armed, believed to be at home, and threatening to shoot himself. The man was known to officers as an avid firearm collector, according to police reports, and a perimeter was set up around the man's house. Officers attempted to call the man's phone and negotiate, but there was no answer.
A crisis team responded to the address, including VCSO, SWAT, and a negotiations team. At around 7:18 PM, officials heard several gunshots coming from inside the home while they were attempting to negotiate with the man. There were two other people inside the home, but they left the home unharmed.
The man continued to refuse to leave the home and, according to police reports, the man made threats to shoot the officers on scene and made additional threats to shoot himself. He even asked police to retrieve some tobacco from his car, claiming that he would surrender if they complied. It was about 8:16 PM when the man finally stumbled out of the home and surrendered to police. He suffered at least two gunshot wounds to his abdomen, and first-aid was administered.
The man was taken to Halifax Health in Daytona Beach where he was treated for his wounds, and Baker Act paperwork was completed. The man was in critical but stable condition as of early Monday morning. According to police reports, no further police action was taken.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
