Man shoots himself in ex-wife’s residence

A North Idaho man shot himself Monday evening after breaking into his ex-wife’s Post Falls apartment and attempting to kill himself in front of her, her friend and four children.

The incident began about 4:30 p.m. when the 35-year-old man called his ex-wife threatening to kill himself at her home at the Ross Point Apartments off Second Avenue. Post Falls police were unable to locate him at that time, said Lt. Pat Knight.

Less than two hours later, the man made good on his promise, shooting himself in the head inside the apartment after phoning his ex-wife about 30 times in seven minutes, Knight said.

The woman was inside the apartment with their 3-year-old daughter. A female friend and three other children, ages 2 to 6, were also inside when the man broke through the front door and swatted the telephone out of his ex-wife’s hand as she tried to call her father.

He then went into the living room and stood over the other woman and children, who were sitting on the couch.

“He puts the gun to his head and says, ‘Why haven’t you returned my calls?’ Then he pulls the trigger several times,” Knight said.

The gun malfunctioned giving the two women time to rush the children outside the apartment. They then heard a single shot. Police found the man dead inside.

Knight said the woman and her child are now staying with family. The name of the man is not being released until police can notify his relatives. The couple had been divorced for several months.