Five hour stand-off with deputies ends after shots were exchanged and suspect surrendered

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ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY (WSLS 10) - A man is in jail after a five-hour standoff in Rockbridge County. On Friday, November 4th, 2016 at 11:06 a.m. the Rockbridge Regional Public Safety Communications Center received a 911 call for help at the 3400 block of Walker's Creek Road related to a domestic situation that had already resulted in multiple shots being fired.

Officials said Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office Deputies responded and found Stephen Clay Sigmon, 39, held up inside of a garage armed with a 12 gauge shotgun. Deputies surrounded the garage, contained Sigmon, and evacuated the immediate area of bystanders.

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The Rockbridge County Sheriff's SWAT team was activated to assist. Authorities said the Sheriff's negotiator initiated contact with Sigmon and immediately began trying to resolve the situation peacefully.

While negotiations were ongoing with Sigmon, investigators continued to investigate the domestic situation and obtained four felony warrants on Sigmon for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, shoot within an occupied building and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Officials said once negotiations were ended by Sigmon the SWAT team use an armored vehicle to breach the garage and CS gas was deployed in an attempt to persuade Sigmon to exit the garage and peacefully surrender. During the gas deployment, Sigmon fired at least two shots at deputies who then returned fire and moved to cover said authorities.

According to deputies, around 4:40 PM, after the gas filled the garage, Sigmon came out and surrendered to deputies without further incident. He is currently being held in the Rockbridge Regional Jail.