LONGVIEW, Texas — The Longview Police Department and SWAT says a barricade situation has ended after an armed man was found dead in a bus that's been converted into an RV in the parking lot of a local gas station.
According to the LPD, the incident occurred at the CEFCO, located at 306 S. Eastman Rd., near Pinecrest Country Club. Around 3:20 a.m., officers responded to the location on reports of a man who refused to leave.
Police say a privately-owned bus arrived the evening of July 17 and the occupant was asked by the gas station staff to leave around 10 .pm.
Gas station employees called police around 3 a.m. as the man remained at the location.
When police made contact with the man, they learned he had a gun and he still refused to leave.
"During further investigation, officers located a family member in Florida that suggested it could be a mental episode because of similar behavior that occurred in the past," the LPD said. "Due to the suspect being in violation of the law, showing signs of a possible mental episode or possibly intoxicated, and in control of a large bus, police did not leave the gas station due to the suspect potentially being a danger to himself or others."
The LPD says negotiators and a relative tried to speak to the man, but no progress was made.
Just after 8 a.m., police sprayed non-lethal gas into the bus as they attempted to get the man to come out. When they got no response, officers got on the bus and found the man dead from an apparent self-inflicted injury.
The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the Texas Rangers.