WGNS usually does not report attempted suicide stories, but that changes when the attempted suicide threats revolve around other potential victims.

Murfreesboro Police responded to the 700 block of North Church Street on Monday night around 11:30 for a man threatening suicide. Once on the scene, they learned that Owen Thompson had called the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and advised them that he wanted to die by, “Suicide by Cop,” according to a Murfreesboro Police report.

During a phone call between police and Thompson, he allegedly advised a second time that he wanted police to shoot him. Officers then made their way into the home on North Church and spoke with Thompson for about 30-minutes. The report from Officer T. Henderson (MPD) read, “Mr. Thompson stated several times that he wanted us to shoot him.”

After the conversation, police decided that 52-year old Thompson needed a psychological evaluation. Police then forced him to a gurney so that medical services could properly transport him to St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital.

No arrests have been made.

For information about suicide prevention, check out the following programs:

• The TDMHSAS Crisis Line at (855) CRISIS-1 (274-7471) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and connects callers to their local provider for mental health and/or substance use crisis services. For more details, go online to tn.gov/mental/recovery/crisis_serv.shtml.
• The TDMHSAS Office of Crisis Services and Suicide Prevention offers information online at tn.gov/mental/mentalhealthservices/sp_child_suicide.shtml.
• The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) is the statewide public-private organization responsible for implementing the Tennessee Strategy for Suicide Prevention. For more details, go online to tspn.org.
• The Tennessee Lives Count (TLC) project is a statewide early intervention/prevention project designed to reduce suicides and suicide attempts for youth ages 10-24. For more details, go online to tspn.org/tlc.
• The Jason Foundation is dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide through educational and awareness programs. For more details, go online to jasonfoundation.com.
• Mental Health America lists the key warning signs to be on the lookout for to help prevent suicide, and offers advice about what you can do if you think someone is considering suicide. For more details, go online to mentalhealthamerica.net/suicide.
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who is in a crisis or an emergency. If you or someone you know is in a crisis, you can call the Lifeline at(800) 273-TALK (8255). For more details, go online to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Source:

MPD Incident Report #14-14745

State of Tennessee