Loveland police on Monday responded to a call of a person in distress on Waverly Drive in northwest Loveland, only to arrive just as the man who made the call fatally shot himself with a handgun, according to police.

Suicide help resources Colorado Crisis Support: 1-844-493 TALK (8255) Summit Stone Health Partners: 970-494-4200 SummitStone Walk-In Crisis Center: 1217 Riverside Avenue, Fort Collins

Public information officer Lt. Jan Burreson said that at 1:09 p.m., the caller had told a dispatcher that he needed help, mentioned suicide and then hung up.

Police responded with a special suicide unit, as well as the SWAT team, which Lt. Brent Newbanks described as a “security measure” for the residential area.

Burreson said the man was standing in his front yard but pulled the trigger just as police arrived. The scene was declared safe minutes later, though police and coroners remained to investigate.

Hans Peter: 970-635-3630, hpeter@reporter-herald.com.