Elderly Man Dead After Standoff With Bethlehem Police

By Al Novack

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (CBS) - An overnight standoff between police and an elderly man is over, and the man is dead.

According to Bethlehem Police, they received a call stating there was an emotionally distressed man with a handgun and he wanted to kill himself.  The caller told police the man's wife was in the apartment with him.

When police arrived at 1320 C Winters Ave in Lehigh County, it was confirmed the man was in possession of a gun. Police attempted to speak with him, but he was uncooperative, threatening to hurt  himself and officers. His wife was rescued unharmed and area residents were evacuated.

During the confrontation, which lasted about five hours, the man discharged his gun 12 times.  He fired on officers in the apartment hallway and at an electronic device being used by authorities to communicate with him. A police car was also struck by gunfire three times but no officers or residents were injured.

Around 2:45 a.m., officers entered the apartment after they stopped hearing responses from the man. He was found dead.

The male's identity has not yet been released. His manner of death was ruled a suicide by the coroner's office.