Man dead after nearly day-long standoff ends in house fire

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A man is dead after a fire started in a home in east Louisville near Fincastle following a 21-hour-long standoff with police.

There were children inside the home for the majority of the standoff, but LMPD spokesperson Alicia Smiley confirmed Friday those two children were able to exit the home safely about 2 hours before the man was found dead inside the house.

The fire started around 3:30 p.m. Friday, and it was not made clear what time it was completely extinguished or when the man’s body was found.

Officers first responded to the address as a domestic violence call around 6 p.m. Thursday. Police were at the home negotiating with the man, who had barricaded himself inside the house, starting Thursday evening until the fire began Friday afternoon.

The Jefferson County Coroner revealed the man, identified as 38-year-old Jason Burgstaller, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

It’s unclear the extent of the damage the home took in the fire, though plumes of thick black smoke filled the air as the blaze spread. One side of the home also looks to be heavily burned.

The investigation is being conducted by LMPD’s Public Integrity Unit and the Louisville Metro Arson Unit.

Copyright 2020 WAVE 3 News. All rights reserved.