A man is dead following an apparent self-inflicted gunshot Monday night outside the Mansfield police station.
Monday evening, July 27, Mansfield Police were alerted to a man in the department’s parking lot who appeared to have a weapon, the DA’s office said.
“Mansfield Police received a 911 call alerting them that a male with a possible firearm would be located in a parking lot,” the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said in a prepared statement. “A ping of the phone that placed the 911 call, traced the phone to the parking lot of the Mansfield Police Department.”
Police were then able to locate the man, who was the only one in the vehicle, before retreating and calling in a SWAT team.
“Approximately one hour later, a drone was utilized to determine that the single occupant of the motor vehicle was no longer moving,” according to the district attorney’s office.
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The SWAT Team entered the vehicle and located a 31-year-old Mansfield man “deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the DA’s office said.
The incident is under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office as well as the Mansfield Police Department.
At around 8:30 p.m. prior to finding the man dead in his vehicle, the Mansfield Police Department sent out press release stating they were “working an active incident involving an individual who is believed to be experiencing a mental health crisis and is armed with a firearm in a vehicle outside the Mansfield Police Station.”
They assured residents it was an isolated incident and there was “no additional threat to the public beyond the immediate area of the incident.” At that time, officers had established “a secure perimeter around the area” while they worked “to bring the situation to a safe resolution.”
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can dial 988 to reach the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Mental health crisis outside Mansfield Police station ends in tragedy
