Dad Shoots Himself With A Shotgun Over Kids

Faline · #1 ● 01-25-2011, 08:30 AM

A dad prevented from seeing his kids shot himself dead yesterday after a 15-hour stand-off with armed police.

The man, named only as Steven and in his 30s, put a shotgun to his chest and fired once - as his estranged girlfriend watched.

She could be heard screaming hysterically as the siege ended on a park football pitch.

The shooting was captured by news crews covering the stand-off, which began when cops stopped Steven in the park in Luton, Beds, at 8.30pm on Sunday.

BBC Look East reporter Nikki Jenkins said: "It was a shocking end no one expected.

"I saw him shoot himself and flop to the ground. He was moving about for a few seconds. Then police moved to check if he was dead.

"The officers were taken by surprise. He had been calm for 15 hours."

A woman whose house backs on to the park said negotiators tried to get the man - a Chelsea fan - to give himself up.

She added: "He told police it was to do with his girlfriend not letting him see his kids."

Steven was surrounded by gun cops overnight but shot himself after he was asked to walk towards a mobile phone at 11.50am.

Moments later, a firearms officer fired a baton round.

Paramedics tried in vain to save him.