SWAT unit, police respond to home where man committed suicide
State police and a special forces team responded to this home at 521 Bower Ave. in Town & Country Estates mobile home park in Canton Township early Sunday morning for reports of a man shooting a gun.
State police and a special forces team responded to this home at 521 Bower Ave. in the Town & Country Estates mobile home park in Canton Township early Sunday morning for reports of a man shooting a gun.
CANTON – A Canton Township man committed suicide Sunday morning after state police and a SWAT unit responded to his home in Town & Country Estates mobile home park for a report of gunfire.
Police said they responded just after 1 a.m. to the home of Stephen William Holik, 50, of 521 Bower Ave., for the report of a man shooting a gun. Police said Holik had been drinking and became upset following a domestic incident involving his girlfriend.
Police said Holik threatened to shoot his girlfriend, which made her flee the home and call 911.
When police arrived, Holik reportedly refused to come outside. Police said they communicated with him, but Holik discharged several rounds through the ceiling of the residence and refused to exit.
Two neighbors, Mary Ellen and Ed Kania, said police knocked on their door about 2 a.m. and suggested they evacuate, but when they learned Holik was the subject of the police call, they decided not to leave, Ed Kania said.
“We knew that he was more of a danger to himself than anyone else,” he said.
A state police specialized response team attempted without success to renew contact with Holik.
Two other neighbors, Terry and Robin Merriman, said they woke up about 7:30 a.m. to their street full of police cars and SWAT members.
“They were doing everything they could to help him,” Robin Merriman said. “We heard police saying, ‘Steve, we want to make sure you’re all right. We don’t want to hurt you. Please answer your phone and come out.'”
Police obtained a search warrant and entered Holik’s home about 9 a.m. They said Holik was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
One neighbor and friend of Holik’s, who wished to remain anonymous, said he graduated with Holik from Trinity Area High School in 1984.
“I knew him all my life,” he said.