Police Standoff Ends When Suspected Shooter Found Dead

BIRMINGHAM, AL — A Birmingham man accused of shooting a woman Wednesday shot himself after a four-hour standoff with police. The incident began around 6 p.m. in the 600 block of Brussels Circle.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office has identified the man as 38-year-old George Anthony Dowdell.

Sgt. Rod Mauldin of the Birmingham Police Department said officers were initially called to the scene on a report of a person shot, which started the standoff between the alleged shooter and police.

"When officers arrived, they found a female suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to her foot," Mauldin said. "She was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment. "The suspect then fled on foot and entered another apartment in the 500 block of Brussels Circle, where he barricaded himself."

Dowdell reportedly fired multiple shots at officers, who surrounded the apartment. Mauldin said no officers were injured.

Negotiations with Dowdell continued into the evening, and after a prolonged time with no response, officers entered the apartment to him dead.

"Our negotiations weren’t successful and in the final stages of this investigation it was determined the subject took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot," Mauldin said.