ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A standoff with an armed, barricaded man inside a St. Petersburg home ended after he shot and killed himself, according to authorities.
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies said they responded to a home in the 2800 block of 60th Ave N. after receiving a domestic battery call shortly before 12 a.m.
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Upon arrival, deputies said they spoke with the victim who told them her boyfriend, 43-year-old Joseph Robinson, grabbed her by her hair, threw her on the bed and hit her multiple times. She also told deputies that Robinson was still inside the home and had a gun; which caused deputies to evacuate eight people who were inside the home.
If you or someone you know may be a victim of domestic violence, call the 1-800-500-1119 hotline to connect with experts at the DV center located nearest you.
While deputies and SWAT members communicated with Robinson, who told them he was not coming out of his bedroom to speak with them, they heard a gunshot.
As a precaution, they evacuated neighbors from their homes in armored vehicles and set a perimeter.
For more than four hours, deputies tried communicating with Robinson. Finally, at 5:18 a.m., deputies entered the home and found Robinson dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Deputies said they learned Robinson had recently made homicidal and suicidal threats.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.
