Standoff ends in death at Pat & Martha’s Tavern after more than 5 hours

A standoff with a man who threatened the Pat & Martha’s Tavern owner with a gun Thursday night ended with the suspect’s death after more than five hours.

A standoff with a man who went into Pat & Martha’s Tavern Thursday night with a gun and threatened the owner ended after more than five hours. The man was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. MARSHALL GORBY/STAFF

Credit: Marshall Gorby

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Credit: Marshall Gorby

The man, who was described as in his 20s, was found dead in the back of the tavern with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Clark County Sheriff’s Office officials on the scene. He was not identified.

Deputies said that the standoff began when the man came into the tavern at 2928 Lake Road and threatened the owner. The owner reportedly told the man to leave, and when he refused the owner escaped from the building, locked the door and called law enforcement.

Deputies used loudspeakers to order a man to come out with his hands up, and family members also were trying to talk him into surrendering. Officers also said they used a drone and a small, wheeled robot with a camera attached to enter the building.

A drone flies near a broken window during a standoff with a man who went into Pat & Martha’s Tavern on Thursday night, Aug. 27, 2020. The man had a gun and threatened the owner, but the standoff ended after more than five hours when the man was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. MARSHALL GORBY/STAFF

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After catching glimpses of the man, deputies called the Springfield Special Operations Team.

The man barricaded at least one door, officials said.

Springfield Police, the Springfield SOT, Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol all had units on scene.

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