Montco coroner identifies barricaded man who killed self

The Montgomery County coroner Wednesday morning identified the 47-year-old former Collegeville man who held police at bay Tuesday before fatally shooting himself as Joseph Luton.

Coroner Walter I. Hofman said Luton had a long medical history of mental-health problems. He died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Hofman said.

At 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, Pennsylvania State Police arrived at Luton's home in the 300 block of Gravel Pike in Schwenksville, Perkiomen Township.

Troopers were acting on a tip from Luton's family that he owned multiple guns and might harm himself.

Once there, troopers "heard the sound of a weapon being loaded" and saw that Luton had barricaded himself in the dwelling.

The State Police emergency team tried without success to talk to Luton. Team members broke a window and inserted a camera, which revealed that Luton was unresponsive.

Troopers entered the home and found Luton, who was pronounced dead at the scene. About 30 firearms were located in the home, according to a statement issued by the State Police.

Route 29 was closed to traffic in both directions from 5 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Tuesday while police conducted an investigation.