A man was found dead Thursday afternoon after an apparent suicide prompted Ankeny officials to order some residents to take shelter in place.

Police Lt. Brian Kroska told reporters that authorities suspected the man, in his mid-40s, killed himself in a room of a business at 106 S.W. Linden St. after he was fired earlier in the day. He has not been identified.

Officers were called to the scene between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m. for a domestic situation, during which a person said their family member had been fired from the business and went into a room. They then heard what they assumed to be a gunshot.

Nearby businesses were occupied and residents were in their apartments above the building near West First and Southwest Linden streets. Officers vacated the area as quickly as possible.

Kroska said he did not yet know the name of the business or how exactly the man and his family members at the scene were associated with it.

Detectives believed a handgun was used in the shooting. Because they suspected the man had a firearm, officials used what Kroska called "code red," alerting residents within a quarter mile of the business to "shelter in place."

Ankeny police and Polk County sheriff's deputies made a perimeter and ordered people at nearby businesses, schools and residences to stay inside and away from windows.

A hostage negotiator was called to the business, trying to make contact with the man, though police do not believe hostages were taken. Authorities entered the business, finding the man after they could not contact him and made sure other employees were outside.

Kroska was unsure if the man was alive when they first arrived.

Ankeny Christian Academy, a private school that offers preschool through 12th grade, was part of the shelter in place, said Sara McClintock, a receptionist at the school. She said the school was not locked down; families were notified about the shelter in place at 1:35 p.m.

Students were ordered to not go outside for recess or leave the school.

"We're waiting for the green light that says we're OK," McClintock said.

Teresa Wallingford, 49, of Elkhart, said she was at an apartment about half a block from the scene when she went outside to see what was going on. She saw officers enter the building with shields, saying there were about 15 law enforcement vehicles there.

“It’s a little unsettling for Ankeny,” Wallingford said.

People in the area were no longer in danger and returned to their homes later that afternoon.

Ankeny Police Chief Darius Potts commended the work of his officers, calling it methodical. He described safety for officers and nearby citizens the top priority.

Police did not expect charges to be filed as of Thursday afternoon. Kroska said he planned to release more information as the investigation unfolded.

As he wrapped up a press briefing across the street, Kroska told reporters: "I got a lot of questions I have to get answered too, guys."

Check back for updates.