Standoff In Las Cruces Ends With Apparent Suicide

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – A standoff involving Dona Ana County Sheriff’s deputies endedFriday afternoon with an apparent suicide by a man who had barricaded himself inside his Las Cruces-area home.

Authorities identify the victim as 46-year-old Steven Porter. Deputies initially were sent to Porter’s home to check on two of his adult children. A Sheriff’s spokesman says Porter was believed to be intoxicated and suicidal, and he reportedly had pointed a firearm at one of his children.

When deputies arrived to speak with Porter, he threatened them and barricaded himself in the home. Authorities say the standoff ended about 2:30pm when deputies from the Special Response Team entered the home and found Porter’s body.

The sheriff’s office says he died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-11-25-05 1643EST