Aaron James “A.J.” Phillips

Suicide

Police were called by a woman who reported that her brother had shown up drunk, brandishing a handgun and shotgun, and threatening to harm himself. Police said two patrol officers saw the man cock the shotgun and heard him threaten them. The officers opened fire but missed, police said. The man dropped the weapon and went into the home, where police reported hearing a single gunshot "almost immediately." The MERGE (SWAT) unit responded, and after hours of trying to contact the man inside, entered the home around 6 a.m. and reportedly found 30-year-old Aaron James "A.J." Phillips dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun was found near him, police said.