Suicide by cop perp booby-trapped his lair before calling 911

Dover, Del. — Dover Police report that a man who had previously sought to die in a suicide by cop drama got his wish.

Police report that on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at 12:03AM, two officers from the Dover Police Department were involved in an officer-involved shooting when James Long, 52, of Dover, called 911 to report he was having sucidal thoughts and wanted to die in a suicide by cop incident.

The incident began at 10:38PM, when dispatchers from the Dover Police Department received a call from a Crisis Center indicating that James Long, was having suicidal thoughts and had vocalized a plan to commit “suicide by cop.” Long has been the subject of previous incidents with the Dover Police Department, including one occasion where similar threats were made.

Officers were dispatched to Long’s apartment in the Country Club Apartment complex located at 50 Greenway Square (M Building), Dover, Delaware at 10:42PM.

The officer’s first arrived at the scene at 10:46 PM. At 12:03AM, Officers made entry to Long’s apartment after failing to gain Long’s cooperation.

Police say that when Long’s apartment was entered he pointed a gun at them and was immediately fired on by two officers, who then began to administer first aid until EMS personnel arrived.

James Long was transported to the Bayhealth Kent General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead as a result of his injuries.

Police say that the weapon Long aimed at the officers was a realistic appearing pellet pistol that resembles a Colt semi-automatic handgun.

It was also discovered that James Long had booby-trapped his apartment with an improvised device designed to mix dangerous chemicals that would have created a toxic gas, in an effort to cause injury or death to police officers.

As a result of the incident, neighboring residents were evacuated prior to officers making entry into Long’s apartment for approximately 45 minutes-1 hour, and were allowed to return to their residences once the situation was deemed safe by investigators on scene.

The officers involved in the shooting are a Corporal, who is a 10-year-veteran, and a Patrolman 1st Class who is a 6-year veteran, respectively. Both officers have been placed on administrative leave with pay in accordance with standard department policy until an internal investigation in conjunction with an investigation by the State of Delaware Attorney General’s Office has been completed.