APG Soldier Found Dead At End Of 16-Hour Barricade: Officials

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD — Authorities say that a barricade situation at Aberdeen Proving Ground ended early Friday morning. A soldier was found deceased inside a residence at the end of the 16-hour standoff, officials said Friday afternoon. His identity is being withheld until next of kin have been notified.

"The situation with the individual who locked himself in a dwelling on post has concluded," officials said in a statement after 1 a.m. on Friday, adding that neighbors would subsequently be allowed to return to their homes.

The standoff had been ongoing since 8 a.m. when emergency officials at APG say dispatchers received a call from someone concerned about a family member who locked himself inside a residence on APG-North.

Police had been at the scene ever since.

"We are monitoring a situation involving an individual who locked himself in a dwelling on post," APG officials said in a statement released early Thursday afternoon. "As a precautionary measure, surrounding homes are being notified. Local residents have been advised to avoid the Bayside housing area."

The Bayside community includes homes for active duty military members, located behind the security gates at the installation.

"As a precautionary measure, residents within the vicinity of the affected area were notified and are being provided an alternate location to go while the situation is resolved," APG officials reported after 5:30 p.m.

"APG authorities remain on location at the Bayside housing area," officials said before midnight. "Residents in the affected area are being provided with alternate shelter. We appreciate everyone's patience while we continue to work through the situation."

After isolating the area where man was barricaded, emergency personnel said they entered the residence around 12:30 a.m. and found the soldier deceased.

The soldier was assigned to Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic, according to APG officials, who said that the incident remains under investigation.

Almost two years ago, a Virginia man barricaded himself inside a National Guard facility near Glen Arm in Baltimore County. He was charged with trespassing, and two months later the state dropped the charge. According to The Baltimore Sun, the man involved was a Special Forces soldier who had gone AWOL for months from the National Guard and refused to leave the building after setting off an alarm when he walked into an armory. After a standoff, he surrendered and was sent for a medical evaluation.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Patch file photo.