SCRANTON, Pa. — Officers from the Scranton Police Department shut down a section of a neighborhood in the city's Providence area just before 7:30 Friday morning. This after investigators say a domestic assault with a pistol was reported at a home along Bartel Street.
"Came in about 7:30 this morning. We heard a gunshot, we came outside, heard another gunshot, cops yelled, 'Get in the building,' and it's been like that ever since," said Jesse Stanton, Stanton's Auto Recycling.
Investigators say a female victim left the home, but the suspect, 43-year-old Michael Wormuth, stayed inside.
"While on scene there attempting to make contact with the suspect in the domestic, we heard a round go off. A shot was fired from inside the residence," recalled Lieutenant Michael Perry.
During the more than two hours of police negotiating. Officers say Wormuth fired several more shots from inside the home. Just minutes after 10 a.m., smoke could be seen coming out of the attic.
"We believe the suspect set the structure on fire. At that point, walked outside the residence with a firearm. He held it up towards his head at one point, and he is the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound," explained Lieutenant Perry.
After police say Wormuth shot himself, officers and EMS crews found he was still breathing. Wormuth was taken off of the property and into an ambulance and driven to a nearby hospital.
Scranton firefighters quickly controlled the blaze, and neighbors like Chris Gressell were finally able to leave their homes.
"I really don't know what to think, you know. I don't know the people. Cause it seems like people come and go out of there, it's a rental property, so you know."
An investigation into what led to the assault, shooting, and fire is currently underway.
We do not know the condition of the suspect at this time.