Man takes own life after hours-long standoff with Cary police

A man took his own life after an hours long standoff Wednesday at an apartment complex off of Walnut Street.

According to Cary Police Chief Terry Sult, the man was experiencing a mental health crisis when police arrived at the scene Tuesday for a wellness check.

The standoff between police and the man lasted for over 20 hours. Police were able to get an 11-year-old boy out, who police confirmed was the man's son.

Sult said a couple hundred people were involved in getting the boy out of the apartment.

"Negotiators did a remarkable job securing his release, then did another remarkable job trying to work with this individual," Sult said.

Sult said this should bring attention to mental health in this country.

"There were highs and lows, you could tell this man was in a dark place," Sult said. "I have no words to express the problem that we face with mental illness in this country."

Sult said officers did not enter the building before the man took his own life. Sult also said FBI were meeting with the family and police would work with social service partners to tell them what happened.

Residents have been allowed back in their apartments. Sult thanked them building management and surrounding businesses for their cooperation with the situation.

An hours-long standoff

Multiple law enforcement agencies surrounded the Cary apartment complex on Wednesday in response to an "active crisis situation" with a hostage involved at one point.

Sult said the boy had minor gunshot wounds after being shot inside an apartment unit at Windsor at Tryon Village Apartments near Walnut Street. The boy had wounds on his arm and neck.

Just before 10 a.m., negotiators were able to get the 11-year-old child to safety. As of Wednesday afternoon., a man was still inside the apartment as a standoff resumed.

Police said a man was threatening suicide in his apartment and they've been at the complex since 11 p.m. Tuesday when they learned of someone dealing with a mental health crisis.

The FBI was at the scene conducting negotiations with the suspect. Sult said it was an active crisis situation and there was still some risk to the public in the surrounding area as negotiations continued. Cary police negotiated with the suspect for about 10 hours before the FBI took over.

"I'm concerned about school kids, those out walking their dogs," Sult said just before 1 p.m. "We have a perimeter setup, to a lesser degree we're concerned about people's convenience. That's a lesser priority versus people's safety."

"At some point, decisions will have to be made."

Police said the child was in "very good" condition.

Sult said there was no history of calls at that address. Police got the call around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities were moving forward with a criminal investigation and crisis investigation on Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday morning, the La-Z-Boy parking lot near the complex was filled with dozens of police and SWAT officers, EMS trucks and a mobile command center. Dozens of police cars were seen lining the roads leading to the apartment buildings.

A woman not involved in the standoff was helped out of a nearby apartment. As of Wednesday afternoon, police said the suspect was not wounded.

"Our interest in his safety is as much as any one else at this point," Sult said.

Before 10 a.m. officers could be seen with long guns in the woods and near the entrances of the complex.

Around that time, residents were sent a message from management.

The alert said, "Emergency services are on the scene of an incident at the Windsor at Tryon Village Apartments. Cary Police Department asks residents to stay inside their homes and avoid the area. Updates will be provided once the incident concludes. For more information, contact the Cary 911 center at 919-469-4012."

The road was blocked off near the Kiddie Academy in Cary.

"This morning I woke up at 6 to take my friend to work," said William Powers, who lives at the complex. "I came back they wouldn’t let me in."

Jay Smith has lived at the complex for five years and said he was shocked at the news within a usually quiet area.

"My wife is locked in our apartment," Smith said. "She has closed all the blinds, [I'm] calling her to comfort her a little bit."

Wake County Sheriff's Office, Raleigh police, Holly Springs police and SBI are also helping with the investigation.

WRAL News is working to learn more information.

If you're having suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.