Man taken into protective custody following suicide threat; three schools are briefly locked down

SIKESTON -- Despite forcing a brief lockdown of schools, a wandering man deemed suicidal by family was safely located by authorities Friday in Sikeston.

About 2 p.m. Friday, Sikeston Department of Public Safety received a report of a 30-year-old male in the 800 block of East Gladys Street who was threatening suicide and armed with a handgun, according to Capt. Jim McMillen, public information officer for DPS.

"Officers responded, but he'd already left on foot when they arrived," McMillen said. "We got some reports of him being at Food Giant on Malone. We searched and he wasn't there."

Officers then received reports from family members the man was at Dudley Park, which is where they finally found him, McMillen said.

"Of course, he was emotionally upset, and we were able to talk him into giving himself up without incident," McMillen said.

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