Hingham Suicide Victim Threatened To Kill Ex-Girlfriend's Boyfriend, Himself: Police Reports

HINGHAM, MA — A Hingham man who killed himself threatened to take the life of his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend before taken his own, newly released documents show.

On July 8, Hingham police responded to a report of a distraught man, identified as Austin Reeves, inside an Edgar Walker Court home. The hours-long situation, which included the use of a regional SWAT team, ended during the early hours of the next morning after Reeves was found dead in his home.

Since the death, questions have surfaced about the use of a SWAT team by the Hingham Police Department. Kate Harrison, Austin's mother, told the Boston Globe that she asked why the regional response was necessary. Russell said they turned a situation involving a person distressed about his ex-girlfriend into a life-and-death situation. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

That distressed person, however, could have led to a second death, according to police reports.

The incident started at about 9:19 p.m. when the Weymouth Police Department got a call from Reeves’ ex-girlfriend. She told police that Reeves called her and stated that her current boyfriend received a text from her ex stating that he would kill himself and him as well, making statements that he was going to go to the current boyfriend's residence, according to a police report. The woman also stated that Reeves sent a photo of a gun to the new boyfriend.

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While police found no threatening text messages exchanged between the two, the ex-girlfriend showed officers a July 4 message from Reeves that stated “No one can stop me from putting a bullet in my own head,” additionally telling officers that he said over the phone that if she continued to date her boyfriend, he would blow the current boyfriend's brains out as well as his own.

During a wellness check, Reeve’s father, Russell Reeves confirmed to police that all the guns in the home were accounted for. Russell tried to talk to his son about the call, who said, “Don’t back me into a corner. Because I’ll make it go away in four seconds.”

Worried, Russell called Hingham police at 10 p.m. for help. At first two officers arrived, and they were told by the younger Reeves that anyone who came upstairs would get hurt. By 11 p.m., the officers began discussions about bringing in a SWAT team.

During the evening, Reeves left his room and exited the front door, but ran back in when he saw officers outside. Several attempts to reach Reeves were unsuccessful, according to a report by Lt. Tim Cohoon of the Braintree Police Department and MetroSWAT team.

Outside, two armored vehicles known as Bearcats were placed outside. An armed vehicle known as the Rook took up a position on the half-corner of the house. All other officers had 40mm launchers, tasers, and K9 teams.

While attempts to contact Reeves were unsuccessful, information from a phone company indicated that the phone was active and being used. However, it is possible that Reeves killed himself the moment he saw the officers outside. Cohoon wrote that a few minutes after he ran back inside, three Hingham officers heard a noise from inside the house. The officers did not believe it was consistent with a gunshot, but they heard it.

By 2 a.m., officers began to use a PA system to get Reeves to respond but again were unsuccessful. Cameras and the use of the Rook were unable to find Reeves.

At 5 a.m., police attempt to contact Reeve’s ex-girlfriend, fearing that he may have left for her home in nearby Weymouth. A K9 search of the back of the property was conducted.

At 6:50 a.m., an officer using a pole camera discovered feet on the ground on the side of the bed. Officers entered the home and found Reeves, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gun wound.

This week, the selectmen released a brief statement regarding the incident.

"Over the past couple of weeks, there have been a number of media reports on a tragic death that took place in Hingham. As parents, members of this community, and elected representatives of the town, we mourn the loss of Mr. Reeves and offer our condolences to his family and all who knew him. We all fully support the police department in their difficult mission," Hingham Board of Selectmen Chairperson Mary Power said at the board's July 25 meeting.

Citing an ongoing investigation by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office, Hingham Police Chief Glenn Olsson has declined comment when asked by the media. He, however, told the Patriot Ledger that he stands by the decision to call for additional resources.

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