TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Authorities said a Pinellas County man took his own life Wednesday hours after a SWAT team was called to an apartment in Pinellas Park.
Authorities went to Park Villas, located at 45th Street North and 76th Avenue North, after a 911 caller hung up the phone. When officers arrived, they said they heard a gunshot and loud screams.
Authorities said the man, later identified as Lee Michael Thrall, 37, of Pinellas County, was holding three people hostage inside the home — two children and one female adult.
Authorities told 8 On Your Side Thrall and an adult female were in a relationship.
The children were ultimately released, followed by the adult woman. Police said neither hostage suffered any injuries during the incident.
Debra Boudreau lives across the street from where the barricade incident happened. She, like the rest of her neighbors was forced to wait outside her home for hours.
“You saw the trucks go in, the cops running back and forth,” Boudreau said.
Neighbors say he was a cab driver, quiet and didn’t bother anyone. Wednesday, they were left in disbelief.
“He worked hard, she worked and he worked, typical family they have problems but to bring it like this I don’t know,” Boudreau said.
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