Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Man Fatally Shoots Self After Standoff on I-575 in Holly Springs

The standoff that started early this morning has ended with the man dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

UPDATE AT 12:03 p.m.: According to WSB, the incident started around 7:30 a.m. Sunday as the man wearing a bulletproof vest pulled over onto the side of the interstate, got out of his car and walked across two lanes to the wood line and put the gun to his head.

The man remained calm and talked to negotiators for nearly an hour before taking his own life. The news outlet reports the man had a long criminal history and is not from the area. Holly Springs Police Lt. Tanya Smith told Patch the man's identity will not be released until his family is notified. 

UPDATE at 9:30 a.m.: the man whose actions shut down Interstate 575 early Sunday morning has taken his own life.

Find out what's happening in Canton-Sixeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Holly Springs Police Spokeswoman Lt. Tanya Smith confirmed with Patch that the man, who remains unidentified, fatally shot himself, ending the standoff with law enforcement officials. 

I-575 southbound has also been reopened. 

Find out what's happening in Canton-Sixeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

ORIGINAL STORY

A man holding a gun to his head has shut down Interstate 575 early Sunday morning, according to law enforcement officials.

Holly Springs Police Spokesperson Lt. Tanya Smith told Patch a man holding a gun to his head on the southbound side of the interstate between Exit 14 and Exit 11 has caused a flurry of police activity to flock to the scene. 

The situation has propelled officials to close the interstate on the southbound side between those exits, as well as any attempt to enter the interstate on those two interchanges. 

According to the Cherokee Ledger-News, the man allegedly parked his car on the southbound side of the interstate, walked towards the wood line, sat down and pointed a gun to his head. 

Officials from Woodstock Police and the Cherokee Sheriff's Office are negotiating with the man, who is also wearing some form of body armor, according to the Cherokee Ledger-News.

Stay with Holly Springs-Hickory Flat Patch for updates.


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