After a lengthy standoff in Hughesville, Pennsylvania, on Saturday (Sept. 7), an armed man who had barricaded himself in his trailer home was shot and killed by police. Authorities identified the Pennsylvania man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, as 62-year-old Gary Lee McCartney.
According to a news release from Pennsylvania State Police, McCartney had threatened a worker at a nearby trailer, as well as neighbors who tried to de-escalate the situation.
A neighbor who knew McCartney said he was kind but had been struggling. A pastor whose church McCartney had occasionally attended called the incident a tragedy.
RELATED: Kentucky Pastor Helps Police Save Suicidal Man, Then Prays With Officers
Standoff: Pennsylvania Man Posted ‘Kill Me’ Sign
McCartney, who lived alone, allegedly waved a handgun at Jason Poust, who was repairing the roof on his girlfriend’s trailer. Poust said he drove away after McCartney warned him, “If you come over here, you’re leaving in a body bag.”
Neighbor Donald Metzger then tried to calm down McCartney, he told police. But McCartney pulled the gun on Metzger and threatened him also. Troopers arrived mid-afternoon with a warrant, charging McCartney with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, aggravated assault, and more.
With McCartney barricaded inside his home, authorities tried for hours to negotiate and end the standoff peacefully. A neighbor described hearing officers say over a loudspeaker, “Come out. We don’t want to do harm to you or your home.” The neighbor also called the scene “intense,” with an armored truck, a police sniper, K-9 units, and drones.
Another resident said McCartney put a sign in his window that read “Kill me.” She heard officers tell him repeatedly, “We’re here to help you. We don’t want to see you hurt yourself. We don’t want to see you hurt.”
According to police, at one point McCartney appeared at his front window and fired one round at troopers. After more unsuccessful attempts to get McCartney to surrender, he later appeared at the window again and aimed his gun at authorities. That’s when a trooper fired one shot at McCartney, “causing fatal injuries.” The standoff ended about 9:30 p.m.
Local Pastor: ‘We Need To Help One Another’
Dan Cale, pastor of Friends Church in Hughesville, said McCartney had worshiped with the congregation in the past. “I last saw him a few weeks ago, and at that time, there was no indication that his life would end this way,” he told the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.
“Our church provided [McCartney] with some food and other assistance,” said Cale. “Like many others in our community, he struggled financially. He was no different than the many we help through our monthly food program. This tragedy is a reminder of just how much we need to help one another and look out for each other.”
Calling the situation “very sad,” the pastor added, “Our police have a very tough job. My heart goes out to them as well.”
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