Eagle River standoff locator
From Michelle Theriault Boots in Anchorage --

12:15 p.m. UPDATE:

A standoff between police and a suicidal man with a gun that closed Eagle River Road Friday morning has been resolved peacefully and the man has been taken into custody unharmed, an Anchorage Police Department spokeswoman said.

Police took custody of the man at around noon, said Anita Shell of the APD. Eagle River Road is now open.

Police received a call at 4:30 a.m. Friday from the family of the 21-year-old man, who was despondent and calling family members to say goodbye.

They located him in his vehicle at Mile 8.5 of the Eagle River Road at about 5:15 a.m.

During the nearly seven-hour standoff, the man had a handgun but never threatened officers with it, Shell said.

"He was mainly a threat to himself."

He'll be taken for a medical evaluation, Shell said.

-----------------

Original post:

A suicidal man with a gun is in a standoff with police at Mile 8.5 of Eagle River Road, according to the Anchorage Police Department.

Police received a call at 4:30 a.m. on Friday from family members of a 21-year-old man who was “despondent and calling his family to say goodbye,” an APD spokeswoman said in a statement.

Officers found the man in his vehicle on the side of Eagle River Road at mile 8.5.

Police and negotiators are on scene.

Eagle River Road is closed in the area around the suicidal man.

Motorists traveling east toward the Eagle River Nature Center are being turned around at mile 7.4.

This is a developing story. We'll update as we learn more.