Deputies: DeLand confrontation ends peacefully after suicidal man aims gun at head

“We’re glad to be able to report that through hours of de-escalation and patience, this call ended with everyone alive and OK,” Volusia County Sheriff's Office officials said.

After hours of trying to de-escalate a situation in DeLand Wednesday, where a man threatened to kill himself, Volusia County sheriff's deputies were able to end the confrontation peacefully.

“We believe the sanctity of human life is our number one priority,” VCSO Chief Deputy John Creamer said during a news conference.

Watch a VCSO official describe incident in news conference:

Deputies said they received a call just before 2 a.m. from a man saying he was suicidal and upset over relationship issues with his significant other.

"He planned on walking away from the 2800 block of Nectarine Road and shooting himself somewhere away from his family. A VCSO telecommunicator attempted to keep a dialogue open with him, calling him back after he disconnected the call and trying hard to convince him not to harm himself or anyone else," according to a news release.

The caller was identified as Neil Kirkland, 41, Creamer said.

"Kirkland indicated his mind was made up due to relationship issues with his fiancée, and his belief that he would lose his children," the release said.

VCSO's AirOne helicopter located Kirkland, who was driving his truck. Deputies said Kirkland fired a shot at the chopper.

“The deputies were behind it and did a stop stick maneuver, and his truck came to rest on West Parkway and 92,” Creamer said.

DELAND, Fla. — Kirkland got out of the truck at a gas station on International Speedway Boulevard and pointed a gun at his head and then stuck it in his mouth, deputies said.

According to deputies, Kirkland told them if they didn't kill him he would kill himself.

“We don't want to go to a suicidal call and be the mechanism for someone to die, but this person clearly indicated that he wanted to die by suicide by cop,” Creamer said.

After about eight hours of negotiations, Kirkland surrendered, and the SWAT team took him into custody, deputies said. He admitted to taking Xanax and other narcotics, Creamer said.

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Kirkland was charged with

aggravated assault on an emergency medical care provider, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharging a firearm in public and violation of probation.

He was taken to the Volusia County Jail without bail.

A two-mile stretch of road was closed most of the morning, forcing drivers to take detours. Several businesses had to stay closed.

“This is inconvenient. It's hot. We are all ready to go to work and we are losing money," resident Craig Calabucci said.

No injuries were reported.

Kirkland has a criminal history stemming from a 1998 attempted homicide in New Smyrna Beach, Creamer said. He was arrested, tried and convicted in 2001 on an attempted first-degree murder charge, but was placed on parole in 2005, Creamer said.