MULBERRY, Fla. — A Jacksonville man barricaded himself inside a car with a gun for hours on Tuesday in Polk County before taking his own life, the Polk County Sheriff's Office explains in a news release.
Law enforcement responded earlier in the day to reach the man, identified as 45-year-old Marquis Baker, who was parked near the Christina Animal Hospital in Mulberry. A sheriff's office spokesperson explained that the man was alone and armed with a weapon.
In an update Wednesday morning, the agency explains crisis negotiators tried to convince Baker to surrender peacefully after he locked himself in his 2012 Chevrolet Impala. The 45-year-old was wanted out of Duval County for failure to appear for 11 counts of possession of child pornography.
He was also listed as a missing person "based on statements he made to his defense attorney," according to the sheriff's office.
Deputies were able to find Baker's car and ended up following him for around five minutes before he parked near the veterinarian’s office, parked his car and reportedly put a gun to his head.
"Deputies continually communicated with Baker during the standoff trying to get him to surrender, and even provided him with a cell phone to make it easier to keep the dialogue going," the agency explains in the release.
After hours of attempted negotiations, the 45-year-old died by suicide. Medics immediately started life-saving measures on the man. He was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after.
Law enforcement didn't fire at Baker nor was anyone else hurt, deputies added.
“Our SWAT members and Crisis Negotiators have responded to armed barricaded subjects on two consecutive days," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "While the goal is to end these kinds of calls peacefully, the most important thing is that no deputies or innocent bystanders have been injured in either of these events—and for that, I am extremely grateful.”
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis is urged to reach out for help. You can contact the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay at 211 or call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached 24/7 at 800-799-7233. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
