Woman With Gun Spurs SWAT Standoff In Bristol (ICYMI)

BRISTOL, PA — A woman with a gun who was threatening suicide led police into an hours-long standoff in Bristol Borough late Monday.

Bristol Borough Police were called at about 7 p.m. Monday to Washington Street. There, police say, they found a 42-year-old woman on the second floor of a home, armed with a handgun and threatening suicide.

The Bucks County South SWAT team was activated and police evacuated residents in the area, setting up a temporary shelter at St. Ann's Church. Negotiators tried to make contact with the woman, but were initially unsuccessful.

About two hours into the standoff, police say, they were finally able to reach her by telephone. They talked for another two hours or so and, at about 11:15 p.m., negotiators were able to convince the woman to leave the home.

She came down to the front porch of the home and, after several minutes, SWAT officers approached and were able to take her into what police called protective custody. She was taken to Lower Bucks Hospital by the Bucks County Rescue Squad.

About 20 people who had been evacuated were then allowed to return to their home.
Officers from multiple departments, as well as the multi-agency SWAT team, responded to the incident.

"Bristol Borough Police would like to thank the affected borough residents for their cooperation and patience during this tense situation," police Chief Steven Henry said in a news release.