Dan Stamm

Gun Goes Off as Montgomery County Officers Wrestle Weapon From Suicidal Man

A Montgomery County police chief credited his officers for putting their lives on the line to save the life of a suicidal gunman. Gunshots discharged during the overnight incident in Abington Township but luckily no one was hurt.

The 32-year-old man said goodbye to family members in the area of Limekiln Pike in Upper Dublin Township and left his home late Sunday night, said Abington Township Police.

Upper Dublin Township Police sent out an alert and shortly before midnight, an Abington Township Police officer spotted the man walking in the area of Limekiln Pike and Mount Carmel Avenue, said Abington Chief Bill Kelly. The officer stopped to offer the man a ride home.

Since the man had his hands in both pockets, the officer patted down the man and felt a gun in one of his pockets. At that point, the man drew his gun, began waving it around and shouted "shoot me!" multiple times, said Kelly.

The officer drew his weapon and a sergeant who also responded to the scene then lunged at the suicidal man, said Kelly.

During the struggle for the gun, several shots were fired but luckily no one was hit.

"They were putting themselves at risk, obviously," said Abington Township Police Chief Bill Kelly. "If they had failed to be able to control that weapon and keep it away from them and when it was discharged like that obviously they were in grave danger at this point."

Kelly said the officers did "what all police officers try to do which is end these things peacefully."

"Sometimes that doesn't happen, fortunately because of their courage and their skill they were able to do that in this case," said Kelly.

Kelly didn’t identify the man who police arrested.

"I am very appreciative of the dedicated and courageous actions of the officers who spared the life of this suicidal man," said Kelly.


SUICIDE PREVENTION HELP: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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