Man shoots himself after nearly 3-hour standoff

Police went to the home of Charles Byer, 51, on Lake Harbor Drive after receiving a call from family members who were concerned for his safety. Officers determined Byer, who is a convicted sex offender, was wanted for a probation violation after missing several appointments with his probation officer.

Shortly after officers arrived at Byer's home around 10 a.m. Tuesday, he walked out into his yard with a handgun. Police said he ignored their demands to put down the weapon, then walked several hundred yards away and sat next to a shed.

Negotiators spent more than two-and-a-half hours trying to get Byer to surrender before officers heard a single shot. They found him with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.

Byer was convicted in Allegan County in 2010 of attempted second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under the age of 13. He is listed on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry.