Update: Early Reports Indicate Man Shot Himself

A Perkiomen Township man who barricaded himself in his home died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the preliminary investigation, Pennsylvania State Police report.

His identity has still not been publicly released.

During the standoff, authorities repeatedly addressed a “Joe,” and pleaded with him to communicate with them and come out of the house.

Around 5 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, Pennsylvania State Troopers responded to a residence in the 300 block of Gravel Pike to check on the welfare of a 47-year-old man. “Troopers learned that the man owned multiple weapons and indicated a desire to hurt himself,” the report states.

“Upon arrival of the troopers, they heard the sound of a weapon being loaded and observed the male barricaded himself in the residence,” according to the report.

The portion of Route 29/Gravel Pike around the house was closed to traffic, and some surrounding houses were evacuated. The State Police Special Emergency Team (SERT) responded to the scene and tried to contact the man, police said.

When the attempts were unsuccessful, SERT used a camera to see into the residence and observed the man was in the home but unresponsive, the report states.

He was found dead when troopers entered the home, police said. About 30 firearms were found in the home, according to the report.

Previous updates:

A Perkiomen Township man was found dead in his Gravel Pike home early this afternoon after a police standoff that lasted more than five hours, closing Route 29.

Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Danea Durham said that police were called to the scene at about 6:00am Tuesday to check on the welfare of the inhabitant, who has not yet been identified.

EMS units were initially dispatched to the scene for an "unknown medical emergency."

It was not immediately clear how the welfare check escalated into a police situation that necessitated the mobilization of a SWAT team.

Durham said the police became aware that the man in the house was armed but would not provide further details.

At about noon, police broke a window and inserted a camera into the house, which showed a man lying on the floor. Shortly afterwards, the road was reopened.

Durham said the PSP would issue a press release with additional information.

Earlier story and updates below.

Update 12:23pm: Route 29 has been reopened. We're working to gather more information on the status of "Joe."

Update 12:00pm: Police appear to be feeding a camera on a rod through one of the front windows of the house.

Update 11:51am: Police can be seen cautiously peering into the windows of the house with flashlights.

Update 11:36am: Police are breaking the windows of the house. A sniper is poised atop a tactical vehicle, his gun trained on the house.

Update 10:55am: There is a report that authorities have inserted a camera into the house through a broken window in an attempt to ascertain "Joe's" status.

Update 10:16am: "Fred wants to know you're safe," said a voice on the megaphone to the subject, who remains barricaded in the home.

According to county land records, the property at 315 Gravel Pike is a multifamily residence owned by Fred and Cynthia Chendorain of Collegeville. It's not clear whether he is the "Fred" referred to by authorities.

Update 9:57am: A single gunshot was just heard at the scene. "That's how this starts," a voice on the megaphone said immediately afterward. It's not clear who fired the shot, or whether authorities are actually in contact with the individual inside the house.

[Reader Thomas Keene that this was not a gunshot, but rather a so-called "flashbang" grenade.]

Update 9:55am: "Things are going to happen, Joe. Walk out the door, that's the way this gets better," said a voice on a megaphone.

Personnel in SWAT uniforms and gear are visible near the scene. 

Update 9:30am: Negotiators are trying to get a man to come out of his house. A voice on a loudspeaker or megaphone was heard saying, "Joe, let me know you're all right."

Initial story below.

An unidentified subject has barricaded himself in a house in the 300 block of Gravel Pike (Route 29) in Perkiomen Township, according to unconfirmed reports from public safety personnel at the scene.

State Police have closed off a section of Route 29 between School House Lane and Route 113. There are severe traffic delays in the area.

A reporter is at the scene and we'll update this story as more information becomes available.