Dispute over woman led to Port Charlotte SWAT standoff

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. A man who barricaded himself inside his home Wednesday night is accused of pistol-whipping another man he thought was trying to date his girlfriend, Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputies said.

A body with a self-inflicted gunshot wound was found at the house on the 1100 block of Desmond Street, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies believe it to be the body of Robert Barrett, who allegedly carried out the armed battery on the other man, whose condition is unclear.

Barrett ran from a home on Satsuma Avenue where he pistol-whipped the other man, deputies said. A standoff with deputies ensued, and a SWAT team was called in. They used tear gas before entering the home, according to the sheriff’s office.

“They were walking around the house, flashing lights and we heard quite a few gunshots. It was really scary,” nearby resident Mary Davis said.

Helicopters circled above. Deputies gave Barrett multiple chances to come out of the home, but he refused.

“After a while we finally heard them crashing and breaking glass like they were busting down the door,” Davis said.

Barrett had multiple previous assault and battery charges, including one from last week, according to deputies, who didn’t elaborate or provide Barrett’s age.