Sikeston schools locked down after man's suicide threat

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Despite forcing a brief lockdown of schools, a wandering man deemed suicidal by family was safely found by authorities Friday in Sikeston.

About 2 p.m. Friday, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety received a report of a 30-year-old man in the 800 block of East Gladys Street who was threatening suicide and armed with a handgun, said Capt. Jim McMillen, public information officer for the agency.

"Officers responded, but he'd already left on foot when they arrived," McMillen said. "We got some reports of him being at Food Giant on Malone. We searched, and he wasn't there."

Officers received reports from family members the man was at Dudley Park, which is where they found him, McMillen said.

"Of course, he was emotionally upset, and we were able to talk him into giving himself up without incident," McMillen said.