Man Shot in Police Standoff Dies

RALEIGH, N.C. — A man who was shot during a standoff with Raleigh police Wednesday night died early Thursday, police said.

John Lee Mitchell, 51, shot himself inside a north Raleigh office, ending a four-hour standoff during which police closed part of Spring Forest Road and tried to negotiate for him to come out.

Police Maj. Ken Mathias said a gunshot was heard inside the ASAP Office Supply offices at 5621 Departure Drive about 9:30 p.m.

"After about 2½ hours, we stopped having any conversation, we heard a single gunshot, and the victim was transported to Wake Medical Center," Mathias said.

Police cars escorted the ambulance to the hospital.

The case has been ruled a suicide, and no further investigation of the incident is planned, police said.

Mitchell was associated with the business, police said, declining to elaborate.

Officers responded to a call at about 5:40 p.m. after a caller to 911 said a man had barricaded himself inside an office building.

Police said the police Selective Enforcement Unit entered the building after the shot was heard and determined no one else was there. Wake County EMS medics rushed Mitchell to WakeMed, police said.

Spring Forest Road at Atlantic Avenue in Raleigh was blocked to traffic until about 9:30 p.m.