Fort Bliss 24 year old soldier kills himself as police arrive to save him

Bliss soldier kills himself in police standoff

The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jul 20, 2010 15:21:52 EDT

EL PASO, Texas — A soldier died after shooting himself in the chest during a standoff with local police, authorities said.

Robert Nichols, 24, shot himself Monday night, El Paso police spokesman Mike Baranyay said. Nichols was taken to William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss, where he later died.

Baranyay said police went to Nichols’ northeast El Paso home after getting a call about a suicide in progress. After officers heard several gunshots from inside the home, Nichols came out and later shot himself as police looked on, police said.

Details of Nichols’ Army service were not available Tuesday afternoon. Fort Bliss officials said military authorities have investigated three other suspected suicides involving soldiers from the post this year.
Bliss soldier kills himself in police standoff