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Potential Hostage Scene Ends in Suicide

John Corley

  

A man was found shot dead inside the offices of the Southeast Human Service Center in Fargo Thursday night. What appeared to be a potential hostage scene ended in suicide.

At 4 PM, 49-year old Jon Casper of Fargo walked into the second floor of the Southeast Human Service Center and revealed to the lone employee working up there that he had a gun. He told the employee that his intention was to kill himself or that he would have a police officer do it for him. Frightened for her life, the employee did not leave the office building when it was time to go home after the work day had ended.

In a press conference on Friday, Fargo Police Chief David Todd said, “when that employee failed to come home for dinner, that employees husband texted her and asked if everything was okay. At which point after some time she was able to text back, that no, everything was not okay.”

The employee’s husband notified police, and officers were able to arrive and safely remove the employee away from Casper. Officers at the scene then tried to calm the situation and get Casper to drop his gun. According to Chief Todd, Casper never pointed his gun at the employee or at police.

“At 8:51 PM, a single gun shot was heard originating from the second floor and exiting the building,” he said. “At 10:01 PM, entry was made into the office and Jon Casper was found deceased of an apparent gun shot wound to the head.”

Chief Todd also said he believes that this was a suicide, not a hostage attempt, and that no employees or police officers were harmed. Southeast Human Service Center provides mental heath services, however it’s not known whether Casper had any mental illnesses or was a client of the facility.