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Man shoots himself in chest during police standoff

He had barricaded himself in his home with intent to commit suicide

By Daniel Borunda
El Paso Times

EL PASO — A man is in critical condition after shooting himself in the chest during a standoff with police late Monday night in Northeast El Paso.

About 8:40 p.m., El Paso police responding to a call of a suicide in progress with a weapon encountered a man who had apparently barricaded himself inside a home in the 10400 block of Persephone Drive in the area of Charles Middle School. Upon arrival, police heard gunshots coming from inside.

Jessie Bufford, who witnessed the incident with a group of friends from a nearby rooftop, said the man was shirtless on his porch when he shot himself.

“It’s crazy,” Bufford said.

Police said the man was shouting military jargon during the standoff.

After the man shot himself, SWAT team members rushed the house. Police surrounded the area and several streets were blocked.

The man, in his 20s, was in the home by himself. There were no other known injuries.

Copyright 2010 El Paso Times, a MediaNews Group Newspaper