Three people are dead after a standoff in Dunnellon ended in a double homicide and a suicide.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies were involved in a standoff Sunday night with 39-year-old Michael Chiswick at his residence on S.W. Plantation Street. When deputies arrived at about 6 p.m., they discovered that Chiswick had shot and killed his mother, 63-year-old Joan Chiswick, in the front yard. He then entered the residence and refused to come outside, a sheriff’s office report states.
A standoff ensued and the sheriff’s office’s SWAT Team was brought in to secure the area and attempt to resolve the volatile situation. Multiple efforts were made to maintain phone contact with Michael Chiswick to end the standoff without further incident but he fired shots at a sheriff’s deputy and others while inside the residence, the report says.
The standoff continued until about 1:30 a.m. Monday when SWAT Team deputies entered the home. Once inside, they determined that Michael Chiswick had shot and killed his 85-year-old grandmother, Flory Chiswick. They also found Michael Chiswick dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the report says.
“This is a difficult situation for everyone involved and our prayers are with the victims’ family,” said Sheriff Billy Woods. “I am grateful for the cooperation from the surrounding community during the incident and the actions of my deputies and SWAT team to isolate this incident.”