ABILENE, Texas — UPDATE (5 p.m. Feb. 2): The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office has released more information about the incident at the Motel 6 on West Stamford Street in Abilene.
The TCSO said it received a report at around 10 a.m. Friday about a stolen truck in the Merkel area. The truck was later found at the motel.
The Abilene Police Department received a tip, then notified the TCSO the suspect was in Room 116 had a weapon and was not going to cooperate with officers. With the help of the APD and the Callahan County Sheriff’s Office, negotiations started around noon and after several attempts to have the man come out without incident, officers forced entry.
The suspect was in the motel room's bathroom with a weapon. Officers continued to negotiate and after several failed attempts, the suspect shot himself.
He was taken to Hendrick Medical Center and is listed in critical condition, according to the latest update from the Taylor County Sheriff's Office.
ORIGINAL STORY: A man is in the hospital after stealing a vehicle and barricading himself in an Abilene motel room, Taylor County Sheriff Ricky Bishop confirmed Friday afternoon.
According to Bishop, Abilene Police Department officers tried to negotiate with the man after making entry into the motel room. The man then shot himself with a stolen rifle, Bishop said.
The sheriff was unable to confirm whether the vehicle and the rifle were stolen at the same time.
APD was not available for an interview at the scene and Bishop declined an interview.
The Callahan County Sheriff's Office assisted with the incident.
