107-Year-Old Man Dies in Shootout with SWAT Team (UPDATE: He Was Reportedly Legally Blind and Nearly Deaf)

Monroe Isadore on his 104th birthday (Credit: Twitter/Drew Petrimoulx)

PINE BLUFF, Ark. (TheBlaze/AP) — A 107-year-old man is dead after SWAT officers shot back at him during a standoff at a home in the southeast Arkansas city of Pine Bluff, police say.

But friends and fellow church members say that Monroe Isadore was legally blind and nearly deaf and shouldn't have died that way.

"I'm in shock today," Larry Smith, who attended church with Isadore at New Direction Baptist, told KLRT-TV.

"He couldn't hear," Smith said. "Somebody should've told the [police] he couldn't hear."

Friends told KLRT that Isadore was also legally blind and believe Isadore must have been confused.

"For that to happen and like that... had to be," Smith said.

Isadore was a God-fearing man who grew vegetables and gave them away at church, according to those who knew him.

"That's the kind of man that our police department killed," said Pine Bluff resident Gary Wilson to KLRT.

The Pine Bluff Police Department declined to comment on the case until Monday, KLRT said.

Pine Bluff Lt. David Price tells KATV-TV that police officers called to the home Saturday were told Isadore had pointed a weapon at two people there.

(Credit: KATV-TV)

Officers had the threatened pair leave the home and approached a bedroom. Police say Isadore shot through the door at officers but missed hitting them.

More officers were called, including a SWAT team that inserted a camera into the room and confirmed Isadore had a handgun.

Police say SWAT officers released gas into the room when negotiations didn't work. They say Isadore shot at officers who KATV reports entered the room, and the officers fired back, killing Isadore.

Here's a report from KATV-TV:

KATV - Breaking News, Weather and Razorback Sports

This story has been updated.

(H/T: Drudge; @JoeTalkShow; KLRT-TV)

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