Armed man barricaded inside Rolla post office

UPDATE: The gunman was later found dead inside the post office building with an apparent gunshot wound.

ORIGINAL: Rolla Police Chief Sean Fagan said officers are currently negotiating with a man armed with a gun refusing to come out of the post office on West 8th Street.

The 32-year-old post office employee reportedly walked into the building armed with a gun and took three other employees hostage.

Fagan said officers were called to the post office around 1:30 p.m. after one of the hostages called police from her cell phone.

Police successfully negotiated with the armed man to let the hostages go, which included two women and a man.

As of 4:30, Fagan said the armed man hadn’t responded to further police communication. Fagan said the man was threatening to kill himself.

The Highway Patrol is assisting the Rolla Police Department at the scene.

Residents are advised to avoid the area.