A man found dead after an hours-long standoff in Groton died of a gunshot wound and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has determined the death was a suicide.
Police said the man, identified as 35-year-old James Bangura, prompted a SWAT response when he barricaded himself in a home on Orion Avenue, near the Navy Lodge in Groton Tuesday night.
Groton police responded to the home at 7:18 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a disturbance and a woman told them her husband was in the house and had fired a handgun.
Officers removed the woman and children from the home, set up a perimeter, evacuated residents in the area and called in mutual aid, including police from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and the FBI.
Residents in the neighborhood, which is described by police as mostly military families, were asked to shelter in place and a SWAT team was called in.
Police said the man was found dead just after noon on Wednesday. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest, and the manner of death was suicide.
Investigators are still looking into whether anyone fired at law enforcement officers during the response.
The Groton Police Department thanked the other agencies that responded to assist or offered support during the situation, which include Connecticut State Police, police from Groton City, Groton Long Point, Stonington, Waterford and Ledyard as well as members of the FBI and NCIS, Rhode Island State Police and the Massachusetts State Police, Submarine Base Fire Department, the U.S. Navy, Groton Ambulance and The Salvation Army Canteen.
SUICIDE PREVENTION HELP: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
