Woman threatens suicide in Ammon Walmart parking lot

The Idaho Falls SWAT team was called to the Ammon Walmart Friday around 9:40 p.m. after a woman in her car threatened to kill herself.

The woman was parked on the south side of the store, according to Lieutenant Kevin Casper. He said it’s his understanding the woman initially called a family member and threatened to shoot herself.

The SWAT team surrounded the woman, who Casper said never left her car, and shut down both the 17 th Street and Hitt Road entrances to the shopping center.

Casper described the woman as very distraught. Officers negotiated with the woman for about 30 minutes before she put the handgun down and surrendered, Casper said. She was taken into custody and will undergo a mental evaluation.

Casper said although the handgun was loaded, “there was never an immediate threat to any shoppers.” He said Walmart was briefed about the situation and it progress until the woman surrendered.

It is NPG of Idaho policy to not report on suicide situations except in situations where it becomes extremely public and disrupts others.

If you are considering suicide or need help, please call a crisis hotline. One resource is the National Hopeline Network. It can be reached at 1-800-SUICIDE.

After a six year hiatus, Idaho will have its own state suicide hotline again beginning on Monday.