MONCKS CORNER, S.C.–According to the Moncks Corner Police Department, a 41-year-old man fatally shot himself with a revolver Tuesday following a long standoff with police in the Berkeley County Courthouse parking lot.
Law enforcement officials say around 2:40 p.m., a man made a threatening phone call to staff at St. John Cristian Academy in Moncks Corner, urging children to leave the playground.
Officers with the Moncks Corner Police Department say they then quickly responded and secured the school and began searching surrounding areas for the individual who made the initial call.
Police say they soon identified and located him in a nearby parking lot by the Berkeley County Detention Center. The jail sits adjacent to the courthouse.
Officers say the man refused to leave his vehicle.
Police officers say they talked with him for almost two hours and tried to convince him to cooperate.
EMS eventually transported him to North Trident Hospital where he ultimately died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police stated.
Police say the man was wanted for an outstanding family court bench warrant and an outstanding warrant by the Moncks Corner Police Department.
The Berkeley County Mobile Crisis and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office also responded and assisted.
Police say the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office will release the individual’ name pending notification of the family.
Police haven’t confirmed if the individual had any known mental issues.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in South Carolina among individuals between the ages of 35-44. More than twice as many people die by suicide annually in the Palmetto State than by homicide. For help or additional information, call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255).
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Good luck getting through to the suicide hotline…I was put on hold for 45 minutes and then hung up on. If you need help, try finding a local helpline if possible.