Standoff with suicidal man on Walla Walla VA campus ends peacefully

A standoff with a suicidal man in the parking lot of the Walla Walla VA hospital ended peacefully Wednesday morning.

According to the Walla Walla VA Medical Center at around 7:35 a.m. police were called about a car parked behind the St. Michael Haven buildings on the VA property.

Officers say when they arrived the man provided identification, then got into his car and pulled out a knife. Officers say he held the weapon to this throat and threatened to kill himself. The VA says the area was secured and officers from Walla Walla police department and the VA were able to get the man out of his car.

He was removed from the property and will now undergo further evaluation.

At one point, there were reports of shots fired but Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Thorson says an officer broke out a window on the car, and no shots were fired in the incident.

Hospital officials say the man is not a Veteran and is not a resident at the St. Michael Haven housing program.