Armed Man Arrested After Standoff at Federal Courthouse

Authorities arrested a man after a 45-minute standoff in which the suspect held a pellet gun to his own head outside the federal courthouse in downtown Baltimore, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Police closed major intersections around the courthouse, including Light Street at both West Pratt and West Lombard streets. Employees were evacuated as a precaution, the newspaper says. The man has not been identified.

The U.S. Marshals Service said the man arrived at the courthouse at around 10:15 a.m., sat on a bench outside the facility and held a gun to his own head, according to the Sun.

The suspect told federal marshals he wanted to speak with the FBI and refused to lower the gun until he had, reports Fox 45. Once FBI agents arrived on the scene they spoke with the suspect by cellphone and were able to persuade him to lower the firearm and surrender. After the man was in custody officers learned the firearm was a pellet gun.