Standoff in East Providence ends peacefully

By Rebecca Turco

rturco@abc6.com

East Providence police were engaged in a standoff outside a Riverside home for hours Friday evening.

An armed, suicidal man, identified as 33-year-old Neil McKenna, refused to come out of the home and had shot himself in the leg.

35 police officers and SWAT Team members were on rotation since early this afternoon. Around 10 p.m., McKenna finally exited his North Street home peacefully.

McKenna’s parents called police when they were with him inside the home earlier in the day and realized something was wrong. They exited the home before police arrived on scene.

It was touch and go for some time during it all, when the negotiator was trying to convince McKenna to come out.

“He came to the window, he was cooperative, he showed us his hands, but at some point he took a turn for the worst and just didn’t want to talk after that. So it was just a very long process” said East Providence Police Chief, Christopher Parella.

McKenna was sent to Rhode Island Hospital for a mental health evaluation and medical attention to his leg wound.

ABC6 is told he is not facing any charges at this time.

© WLNE-TV 2015