Coroner Releases Cause of Death for Man Found Dead in LITH Home

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL - A 51-year-old Lake in the Hills man who barricaded himself inside his home Friday evening and was later found dead by authorities committed suicide, McHenry County Coroner Anne Majewski said Monday. James A. Boulton died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Majewski said. Lake in the Hills police first responded to Boulton's home in the 1100 block of Burr Street in Lake in the Hills at 5 p.m. on Friday for an initial report regarding an assault between two neighbors.

Boulton, who was one of the subjects involved in the altercation, entered his home before officers arrived, according to a news release from Lake in the Hills police. When officers attempted to make contact with him, he refused to open the door to an interior room, which was locked. Officers then heard a single gunshot from within the room, police said.

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The officers secured the residence and requested assistance from the McHenry County SWAT team.

The SWAT team entered the home and attempted to make contact with the subject. After a period of time of no response, SWAT officers entered the room and located Boulton who was dead. He was the only person located in the home, police said.

• Man Found Dead After Barricade Situation

Majewski said toxicology results are still pending but preliminary scene and autopsy findings suggested Boulton died at about 7:30 p.m. of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The death remains under investigation by the McHenry County Coroner's Office and the Lake in the Hills Police Department.

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