Kenwood standoff death: suicide

Last week’s 19-hour standoff between a SWAT team and an armed man barricaded in a Kenwood trailer ended with the suspect’s suicide, officials said Monday. According to initial autopsy results, Miguel Angel Garcia, 32, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

Officials were initially unsure if Garcia died by his own hand or gunfire from SWAT personnel.

Garcia threatened to kill himself several times during the overnight siege, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said, “or force law enforcement to kill him, in what is known as ‘suicide by cop.’”

During the ordeal, Garcia also reportedly confessed to several violent felonies, including a murder. His details lead Napa authorities to the April 3 discovery of a dead male body near Lake Hennessey.

The clash began April 1 when authorities tried to arrest Garcia on felony firearm, narcotic, and child endangerment charges. The owner of the Hoff Road trailer confirmed that Garcia was armed with a rifle, handgun, and had body armor. His girlfriend, believed to be a hostage, was released later, as the entrenched Garcia dealt with negotiators sporadically during the night.

In an attempt to “re-engage the suspect in productive negotiations,” the Sheriff’s SWAT fired tear gas into the trailer. “The suspect responded by shooting indiscriminately out of the trailer,” the Sheriff’s Office reported.

After an additional salvo of tear gas, Garcia opened the front door of the trailer. Members of the SWAT Team then “engaged the suspect with their weapons” as Garcia fell to the ground.