Gwinnett Daily Post

LILBURN - A man killed himself after a 13-hour stand-off with police, officials believe.

The Burnside Lane incident began when officers responded to a domestic dispute at about 1 p.m. Sunday.

A woman reportedly told officers she was physically assaulted by her boyfriend, who had locked himself in the basement, armed with a handgun.

Cpl. David Schiralli said officers contacted the man by telephone, but he refused to cooperate. So the Gwinnett County Police SWAT team was activated between 2 and 3 p.m. "for the safety of the surrounding citizens," a press release said.

Neighbors were notified by using a reverse 911 call system.

For hours, SWAT crisis negotiators talked to the man, but Schiralli said he refused to leave the house. The communications continued until about 8 or 9 p.m., he said.

At about 2 a.m., SWAT officers entered the house and found the suspect's body. Schiralli said the man appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, although an investigation from the Medical Examiner's office has not been completed.

Schiralli said the name of the deceased is being withheld until the examiner's report, which will determine the official cause and manner of death, is complete.