x
Breaking News
More () »

Lakeland standoff over: 6-year-old safe, suspect dead

A man took his own life after a tense 24-hour standoff in Lakeland. The little girl he had in the home with him is safe.
Photo: Beau Zimmer | 10News

LAKELAND, Fla. -- A tense standoff in Polk County that lasted more than 24 hours ended with a man dead and his young daughter, who he had in the house with him, safe.

Deputies say it started when the suspect, Gary Cauley, 39, showed up early Saturday morning at the Lakeland home where his estranged wife, Amie, lives with their daughter, Rylan. The couple reportedly argued through the day.

WATCH: Sheriff Grady Judd discusses how the standoff came to an end

Early Saturday afternoon, Amie grew tired of the argument and said she was going to take Rylan to the beach. The child, however, mentioned that another man would be going with them, so Cauley reportedly armed himself with a handgun and said he was keeping Rylan at home.

SWAT teams negotiated with Cauley overnight. There was one 5-hour period where negotiators didn’t hear from Cauley. They later learned he and Ryland were in a closet, and he had been taking a nap.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says Cauley was told dozens of times to let the child go. He told them he would -- but never did. Then, just before noon on Sunday, he said he’d let Rylan out at 1:30 p.m. At 1:20 p.m., Rylan walked out and calmly went to deputies.

Rylan described her father inside the home, saying he was nervous.

“Her daddy was shaking all night," Judd said after hearing from the little girl. "He was walking around all night with a handgun and he was afraid."

Rylan also told deputies that her father said he was going to kill himself.

After the child was out, deputies sent gas into the home. Cauley went to a front window and repeatedly pointed his gun at his head, chest and mouth. He wouldn’t put the gun down, so more gas was pumped in, deputies say.

He then put the gun in his mouth and fired. He died at the scene.

At this point, the mother and daughter have not been reunited. They will be when it’s deemed safe.

Cauley is considered a “violent offender” with 14 previous felony charges and several misdemeanors. He was on probation for domestic violence charges. Due to his criminal history, he was not legally allowed to own the handgun he used during the standoff.

Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10 News app now.

Have a news tip? Email tips@wtsp.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Before You Leave, Check This Out