Update: The standoff appears to be over, and PBSO spokesman says the shooter is in custody. The suspect has been identified as 33-year-old Leroy Struthers, who has prior incidents. He is said to have surrendered peacefully and no injuries have been reported.
— Palm Beach Alerts (@PBC_Alerts) January 30, 2015
"We were advised that the individual appeared to be mentally unstable and had a gun," Palm Beach County Sheriff spokesman Eric Davis said. "He never put anyone else in danger, other than being on the rooftop with a gun."
According to an emergency alert issued through Palm Beach county, authorities said a naked man armed with a handgun was perched on a rooftop near 1700 S. Federal Highway in Lake Worth, purportedly the address of the Shangri-La Hotel. The man was rolling around on the rooftop.
The area was evacuated and emergency vehicles brought in.
After breaching the building, SWAT teams were able to gain control of the situation.
— Palm Beach Alerts (@PBC_Alerts) January 30, 2015
— PBC Fire Rescue (@PBCFR) January 30, 2015
— PBC Fire Rescue (@PBCFR) January 30, 2015
The suspect reportedly only fired into the air, but threatened to harm himself. He screamed and asked to see his pastor.
David Coviello, a veteran with the local Emergency Services, claimed police are saying that the unknown man was naked and rolling about the rooftop, reportedly placing the weapon in his mouth.
Traffic in the area was backed up as police closed streets near Federal and Dixie highways.
— Eric Pasquarelli (@EricPasquarelli) January 30, 2015
— WPTV (@WPTV) January 30, 2015
“Reportedly the guy has only threatened to harm himself, not anyone else — but hearing he fired a shot up (into the air) — that’s why they’re evacuating the immediate area,” one commenter wrote.
