News

Actions

Charlotte County standoff over, suspect dead

Deputies say gunman killed himself
Posted at 9:11 PM, Mar 29, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-30 10:30:34-04

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. -- Just after midnight Thursday morning, Charlotte County Sheriff's deputies went inside a home on Desmond Street and found a man dead, ending an eight-hour standoff.

Investigators believe the man killed himself.

Deputies tell Fox 4 the ordeal began at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon, when Robert Barrett was involved in a domestic dispute inside a home on Satsuma Avenue in Port Charlotte. They say Barrett fired a gun during the assault, but no one was injured.

Before deputies arrived on scene, investigators say someone drove Barrett about 6 miles to a home in the 1000 block of Desmond Street. They say he barricaded himself inside the home, but deputies were able to get other people out. 

Some nearby residents were asked to evacuate because deputies believed Barrett was armed and had fired his gun earlier in the day.

The SWAT team was called out, but for several hours they could not establish contact with Barrett.

Deputies shot tear gas into the home late Wednesday night, but heard no sign of Barrett. That's when they went inside and found the body, they presume to be him. 

Check back for updates to this story.