Former Demopolis resident shoots self, ending standoff with police

Published 3:59 pm Tuesday, July 16, 2019

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A former Demopolis resident shot himself to conclude an hours-long standoff with law enforcement Tuesday in Fosters, Alabama.

James Robert Suttles, 55, was transported to DCH Hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead.

Suttles was involved in a standoff that began about 6:30 a.m. when members of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force attempted to arrest him on several warrants, including a harassing communications charge out of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Other warrants involve charges related to burglary and property damage.

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After receiving a tip of Suttles’ location, and that he may be armed, a team arrived at a home on Sand Road in Fosters and was attempting to secure a perimeter when they saw Suttles on a back deck. He retreated into the home and marshals followed him inside where Suttles allegedly fired a single shot, causing law enforcement to retreat. It is reported that Suttles fired another shot from a window. He would fire multiple shots as the standoff continued. Later, law enforcement shot gas into the home at which time Suttles went down stairs and onto a back patio area where he shot himself at approximately 11:30 a.m., according to reports.

Authorities said Suttles threatened to kill himself, and others at the scene, multiple times during the standoff.

The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office was also at the scene.

More details will be published as they become available.