RAPID CITY, S.D. – Rapid City Police say a man in a residence on Wanbli Drive may have died in a fire at the home.
Police had responded to the home Tuesday afternoon after receiving a report a man inside reportedly covered himself in gasoline. People inside the home became concerned, left and called police.
Interim Police Chief Don Hedrick says gunfire was heard from inside the residence where a man was armed and had barricaded the door. He reportedly fired at least five shots.
Officers evacuated several nearby homes and had hoped to resolve the situation as peacefully as possible.
However, Interim Police Chief Don Hedrick said he believed the man died in a fire.
After noticing smoke inside the home, Hedrick says fire crews were called in to put the fire out. Authorities had hoped to be able to search the home once it was safe to do so.
Hedrick says they are contacting the Division of Criminal Investigation to give a neutral, third party review of the death.
