A man at the Holiday Inn Express in Kings Mountain died by suicide after an eight-hour standoff with police. Officers arrived on Saturday morning for a wellness check related to a missing person report and found 38-year-old Casey Justin Whitman with a firearm in a hotel room. The area was evacuated, and police and the sheriff’s office negotiated before hearing a gunshot and finding that Whitman had taken his own life, according to QCNews.
Officials kept the area closed during the negotiation, including Woodlake Parkway and access to the nearby hotel until the scene was safe. Assistant Chief Kenneth Hamrick with Kings Mountain Police offered "his condolences to the man's family" and said more updates would be shared. Authorities asked anyone with similar issues to get help from local and national resources, as reported by WCNC.
The identity of the person was not released at first to respect their privacy and family, following WBTV's guest policy. This event has led to discussions about the need for mental health support and crisis intervention to help prevent similar situations.
