Five Hour Standoff Ends With Shooter's Suicide

"WHITE HEATH, IL — Preliminary autopsy results show that a Piatt County couple, whose bodies were found in their home after a standoff that lasted five hours Thursday, died from gunshot wounds.

"The Piatt County Coroner says that 64 year-old Roger Sharp and 59 year-old Shirley Sharp of rural White Heath each suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest.

"Illinois State Police say they are treating the incident as a murder-suicide. They say Roger Sharp shot and killed Shirley before taking his own life.

"Coroner Debbie Robbins says authorities are not revealing how long the Sharps may have been dead. Robbins says she could not release any further information.

"The Sharps were found in their house at 2163 Wagon Trail Road when SWAT Team members entered the residence at around 9 p.m. Thursday night.

"Police surrounded the house and called in a SWAT team after a relative told police that Roger Sharp said during a phone call that he had shot his wife. He also threatened to kill himself.

"State police are conducting the investigation into the shootings and have not released any further information."

From The News-Gazette...