SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — One man was hospitalized and a house was set on fire after a standoff with Scranton police Friday morning.
The suspect is 43-year-old Michael Scott Wormuth, he's currently in custody at Geisinger CMC with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said he was breathing when he was being taken to the hospital and he's likely in critical condition
At 7:22 Friday morning police received a call from a female who fled a domestic dispute with her ex-boyfriend, Michael Scott Wormuth, at 405 Bartel Street in Scranton.
"Upon making contact with the suspect, on Bartel Street, a round was fired from inside the residence," said Lieutenant Michael Perry from Scranton police.
Wormuth barricaded himself inside the residence with the gun and the standoff began.
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Scranton police surrounded the building and had negotiators on the scene to attempt to get Wormuth out safely
"The male came outside several times, stuck his head out the window, he made threats such as he was inside making improvised explosive devices," continued Lt. Perry.
The two-hour standoff escalated when smoke started seeping out of the residence
"At one point we noticed smoke, the suspect lit the house on fire with himself inside, he came out onto the front porch holding a firearm, he put the gun up towards his head, and he's a victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at this time. We responded and provided medical assistance, emergency medical care," explained Lt. Perry.
Scranton Fire Department quickly assessed the scene and started putting out the flames
"The fire department was staged with us at the command post where we are now…They went in and began battling this fire as soon as we secured the residence for them," says Lt. Perry.
The building was an apartment complex, a sight property owner Mike Ford had never seen in 15 years of business.
"First time I ever had something like this, especially the way it went down, basically blew my mind," added Ford.
When police caught him up to speed on the situation with Wormuth, he was stunned.
"He wasn't even a tenant here, he did a little work for me on a couple of buildings but - I talked to him yesterday, he was ready to set up for another job that he wanted to bid on, cause I have other properties, didn't have a clue that this was gonna go on later," stated Ford.
Mike says between his other properties, the Red Cross, and friends, everyone in those seven units will have a place to go.
No one was hit with any gunfire besides the suspect with the self-inflicted gunshot wound, scranton police did not fire any rounds either.
Wormuth was the only one inside during the stand-off, again he is in custody at the hospital with critical injuries.
