Armed firefighter at UConn Avery Point takes his life

An armed firefighter on the UConn Avery Point Campus committed suicide Tuesday morning after an all-night struggle with the police, who attempted to disarm the man and persuade him to preserve his life.

Timothy Devine, age 30, shot himself just before dawn by some docks on campus, according to The Associated Press.

According to AP,  Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department Chief Todd Paige said “the department was deeply saddened by the sudden loss” and that Paige “told New London's The Day newspaper that Devine was a dedicated firefighter with an exemplary record and that there was nothing to indicate he was upset or despondent.”

All UConn students received a Rave Alert email and text message telling them to evacuate the campus at 11:35 p.m. when police discovered the suspect’s car at the Avery Point campus.

At 5:21 a.m., all UConn students received a Safe Alert message stating that “the incident involving a male threatening to harm himself at the Avery Point Campus has ended.”

No police officers, students or campus visitors were harmed.

"It was a very dangerous situation for everyone involved," state police spokesman Lt. Paul Vance said, according to AP. "Our intent, at all times, was to peacefully disarm the individual and get him the help he needed."

The school has reopened this morning with business resuming as usual at 8 a.m.