Jackson Police: man dies by suicide during welfare check

A Jackson man died by suicide Tuesday night, after an exchange of gunfire with the Jackson Police officers. That's according to a release sent out by the department.

According to the release, officers were called to a residence on Rhone St. for a welfare check. The check was called in by friends of Bruce Durham, who said he was in crisis.

When officers arrived, they could not get into his apartment, so they obtained keys from the residential manager to provide emergency assistance.

"Upon opening the door and making entry, the resident fired a shot. One of the Jackson Police Officers returned fire as both officers retreated to a place of cover," the release said.

After the Jackson Police Incident Command Team, including hostage negotiators, SWAT and other people from various Investigative Divisions, failed to make contact with Durham, the SWAT team used a robot to enter the residence.

The release said the robot encountered a person who was deceased, and that person was later identified as Bruce Durham.

"The preliminary investigation, thus far has not revealed any evidence that shots fired by Jackson Police contributed to this incident. Mr. Durham’s wounds are consistent with being self-inflicted," the release said.

The Jackson Police Dept. says the investigation is ongoing.