In the summer of 2018, a situation unfolded in Bismarck, North Dakota, that ended in the death of 59-year-old Willie Leam Peoples, a Black / African American male. On the afternoon of July 15th, a call was made to 911 reporting an armed robbery. The events began when an individual arrived at Peoples' residence at 217 S 1st Street with the intention of purchasing a vehicle that he had listed for sale.
During the transaction, the situation escalated dramatically when Peoples reportedly
brandished a handgun and fired it in the direction of the potential buyer. This act prompted the immediate call to the Bismarck Police Department. When officers arrived at the scene, they initially made contact with Peoples outside of his home. However, he quickly retreated back inside the residence, refusing to come out.
The responding officers pulled back from the home and the West Dakota SWAT team was called in to manage the volatile standoff. As law enforcement attempted to establish contact with Peoples, several gunshots were heard coming from within the house. A smell of natural gas was also detected, leading to the evacuation of nearby residents as a precautionary measure against a possible explosion.
After a period of time, when it was deemed safe for officers to make entry, they moved into the residence. Inside, they discovered Willie Leam Peoples deceased. Authorities reported that his death was the result of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In this case, the man at the center of the police standoff was also the sole fatality.
