A disturbance at a Port St. Lucie home Wednesday night, that prompted police and a SWAT team to respond, ended with a man killing himself.
The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of SW Calmar Ave.
Investigators said a woman, who lives in the house, had an argument with her ex-boyfriend, identified as 57-year-old Paul Andrew Panella.
Police said during the argument, the Panella armed himself with a shotgun. As he was holding it, a round was fired inside the house.
The woman fled the house without injuries and went to a neighbor's house until police arrived at the scene.
According to officials, police made several attempts to make contact with Panella, who was believed to still be in the house. After several hours attempting to make contact, Port St. Lucie SWAT team arrived at the scene.
Police set a perimeter and canvassed the area without successfully locating him.
They believed he was inside the home because his car was still at the house. Panella did not answer his cellphone or the house phone.
At around 11:30 p.m., Port St. Lucie police sent a SWAT robot into the home. Panella appeared to be dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
SWAT officers then entered the house and confirmed he was dead.
Man located inside home by robot. Discovered deceased by what appears to be suicide @WPTV SWAT and police clearing scene
— Meghan McRoberts (@MeghanWPTV) November 9, 2017
